FRAGMENT OF THE NATIVITY ALTARPIECE

POLYCHROME DECORATION 

The relief has been completely polychrome re-decorated. The polychrome decoration visible today has flat colours with an abundance of intense blues (robes and mantles), greens (landscapes), ochres (mountains, garments, stable, animals) and greens (landscapes). A striking marbled effect can be seen to the rear of the manger. Incarnations are matte and rough. Parts of the upper or top layer of decoration also appear to have been given an additional layer of colour.

Generally speaking, colours seem to reproduce the original range of colours, albeit cursorily, some of which may be seen in several areas: the blue of Virgin's robe, the red glaze on silver on Saint Joseph's tunic, the black bag belonging to one of the shepherds, etc. Indeed, some of the polychrome decoration visible today, such as the white Sgrafitto on silver decoration on the Virgin's headdress, the cloth on which the Holy Infant is laying and the red Sgrafitto on gilt imitating the moiré of the cushion on which He is reclining, may even be original. To one side of the upper level, a section of landscape with traces of gold bread applied to gilt seem to confirm the possible link with Flemish technique.