Hieronymus Bosch, Christ Carrying the Cross
ca 1490-1510Paintings sorted by Historical period | Painter | Subject matter | Pigments used
Overview
‘Christ Carrying the Cross’ served originally as the left-wing of a triptych. There is a painting of Christ Child on the reverse side. All other parts of the triptych are lost.
The painting was thoroughly investigated by The Bosch Research and Conservation Project. The results of this investigation were published in a magnificent book referenced in the section “Recommended Books” below. An extensive interactive online feature at the website of the project complements the book and shows all the images from the book in high resolution.
The pigment analysis reveals a limited palette consisting of the usual pigments employed in the Renaissance period, such as lead-tin yellow and red and green glazes.
Medium: Oil
Support: Oak
Size: 59,7 x 32 cm (painted on both sides)
Art period: Renaissance
Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna
Inventory number: GG_6429
Painting at the website of the BOSCH PROJECT
Pigments
Pigment Analysis
This pigment analysis is based on the work of the scientists at The Bosch Research and Conservation Project (1). The scientists employed X-ray radiography (XRR), infrared photography (IRP) and infrared reflectography (IRR) to gain insights into the inner layers of the painting and to identify the pigments.
1 Red hat: red lake over lead white.
2 Soldier’s yellow tunic: yellow lake.
3 Purple-grey clothes: blue underlayer and red lake mixed with shadows reinforced by carbon black.
4 Bright green robe: undermodelling with a mixture containing lead-tin yellow and green glaze.
References
(1) Luuk Hoogstede, Ron Spronk, Matthijs Ilsink, Robert G. Erdmann, Jos Koldeweij, Rik Klein Gotink, Hieronymus Bosch, Painter and Draughtsman: Technical Studies, Yale University Press, 2016, pp. 192 – 205.
Pigments Used in This Painting
Resources
See the collection of online and offline resources such as books, articles, videos, and websites on Hieronymus Bosch in the section ‘Resources on Painters‘
PowerPoint Presentations
Painter in Context: Hieronymus Bosch
A richly illustrated presentation on the painting technique and pigments employed by Hieronymus Bosch specially crafted for Art Education. (Number of Slides = 20)
- Each presentation starts with the basic resources on the painter such as his biography, main catalogs of his paintings, and a bibliography.
- Next, you find slides describing the painting technique of the artist and the pigments he usually employed in his work.
- The majority of the slides show examples of paintings containing the specific pigments.
Slides showing the basic resources on the life and works of the Northern Renaissance painter Hieronymus Bosch.
The painting technique and all pigments employed by Bosch are shown in the next slides.
The majority of the slides show important examples of paintings where Bosch employed specific pigments. The slides are organized according to the color of the pigments.
Publications and Websites
Publications
(1) Matthijs Ilsink, Jos Koldeweij, Hieronymus Bosch: Painter and Draughtsman – Catalogue raisonné, Yale University Press, New Haven and London 2016, pp 236-247.
This book is also available online in pdf format in two parts: part I and part II.
(2) Luuk Hoogstede, Ron Spronk, Matthijs Ilsink, Robert G. Erdmann, Jos Koldeweij, Rik Klein Gotink, Hieronymus Bosch, Painter and Draughtsman: Technical Studies, Yale University Press, 2016, pp. 192 – 205.
Websites
Website of the Bosch Project
Website of the Bosch Research and Conservation Project
