Anatomy of a Painting 1. Varnish and Retouching - The modern
synthetic resin varnish has discolored with age and the
accumulation of dirt and grime. The varnish does not fully
saturate the paint layers. - At least two generations of
retouching conceal areas of loss and damage. - The oil medium
used in the older retouching and the synthetic medium of the
more recent retouching no longer match the original paint. 2.
Paint Layer - The paint is composed of dry pigments ground in a
linseed, poppyseed, or walnut oil medium to a pastelike
consistency. 3. Primer or Ground Layer - The ground isolates the
paint from the canvas so that the oil medium does not rot the
fabric. - The ground provides a nonabsorptive surface on which
to apply paint. - The ground layer on this painting is the rich
red earth color traditional in that period of Italian painting.
4. Primary Support - A traditional Italian open-weave linen-
fiber canvas is the primary support. 5. Lining Fabric - The
painting did not originally have a lining. - The