Authors: Ubaldo Sedano, Susana Pérez, Andrés Sánchez, Hélène Desplechin and María Jofre
ISBN: 9788417173852
Format 16.8 x 23 cm
84 pages
Softcover
Spanish Language
Fra Angelico's Madonna of Humility is a unique masterpiece of the Florentine Renaissance that combines the exquisite refinement of the International Gothic with the vigorous realism of Masaccio, and the mastery of traditional craftsmanship with the new conception of disegno. Acquired by the first Baron Thyssen-Bornemisza in March 1935 at a sale of some pieces from the famous Morgan Library collection, Fra Angelico's panel is now housed at the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya in Barcelona. It has been exceptionally brought to Madrid for a long period of time to be restored to its original splendour after a restoration and in-depth study in our workshop. Once this treatment was completed, it was given a magnificent display in the galleries of our collections, accompanied by two instruments like those depicted in the painting: a lute and a portable organetto.
The panel has been analysed in our laboratory using X-rays, infrared reflectography, material analysis and exhaustive photographic documentation. All of this has enabled us to accurately determine the technique and process of execution of the work, with its variations or corrections. For example, the X-ray shows the incisions with which the painter initially placed the eyes, nose and mouth; but in the final layer he rectified this location and painted the eyes in a higher position. The restoration has removed the aged layers of varnish that tarnished the appearance of the work, and the nuances of the flesh tones, the balance of the tonalities and the spatial depth have been recovered. The frame, which was damaged, has also been restored. All of this is documented in this publication.
