Focus on this artwork and discuss the Condition.
Flora was painted on wood panel which was transferred to canvas in the nineteenth century. Despite this, the paint layers are reported to be in good condition with a well-preserved underdrawing and minor losses and abrasions to the surface.In 2019, the painting underwent a conservation treatment performed by Maria Vyacheslavovna Shulepova (Мария Вячеславовна Шулепова) of the State Hermitage Museum. Before, the painting was covered in a yellowed varnish which obscured details and flattened the appearance of the background. The varnish also made the ultramarine palla worn by Flora to appear green. Analysis of the paint layers further revealed that Melzi did not "cheat" in painting the palla by glazing expensive ultramarine over a less expensive azurite; rather, being wealthy, Melzi could afford to paint the entire garment in pure ultramarine.
azurite conservation Hermitage Museum glazing palla ultramarine Flora wood panel