THE DESCENT

POLYCHROME DECORATION 

Sober, elegant polychrome decoration. Predominance of burnished gold and applied brocade that imbue life and a natural look to garments. The chromatic scale is limited: gold and white (turbans, holy shroud, skull, etc.) with a few details picked out in green glaze (details of brocade and ground with vegetation), black (pliers) and brown and grey (hair). Flesh tones are simple and applied in red and black strokes. Shaded beards and flushed cheeks. Abundant pelleting and pilosity in the figure of Christ. However, most of these figures have been modified and some of the characteristics we see have observed may well correspond to later interventions. Presence of matte gold on the irregular surface of the ground.

Decorative techniques:

• Continuous applied brocade in a poor state of conservation. There seems to be more than one explanation for this. Made up of parallel lines and flat areas. Orangey-dark red filler. Details picked out in green glaze.