RELIEF OF SCENES FROM THE LIFE OF THE VIRGIN

POLYCHROME DECORATION 

The high quality polychrome decoration we can see today dates from the Baroque period. Colours are varied. We can see blues, pinks, oranges, yellowish ochres, reds, etc.. Clothing is embellished with rich gold decorative borders depicting scrolls of vegetables, flowers and other decorative elements against lined backgrounds. Sgraffito decoration embellishes linings of clothing, tunics, hose and many other items with eyeleted decoration representing schematic flowers, rays, rhombus patterns, etc.. Burnished gilt is used for brooches, necklaces, headdresses, borders, etc.. Flesh tones are skilfully and subtly applied. Different ages of the people are indicated by deep wrinkles on foreheads and around eyes, blushing cheeks and pink noses, dark brown or black lines used to pick out eyebrows and eyes that have points of light painted on their irises and rose-coloured eye shadow on their upper lids. 

In the Presentation scenario, we can appreciate the underlying polychrome decoration of the lake in front of the Holy Virgin that might well be the original.