Donato Acciaiuoli, Charlemagne’s Life

Francesco di Antonio del Chierico

Artists

His design of the dedication page draws on manuscripts made at the time of Charlemagne, while the white vine scrolls of the prologue’s page, populated with birds, deer, antique medallions and cherubs (putti), are the characteristic motifs of Humanistic manuscripts and Italian Renaissance aesthetics. Both pages show the transition from the precise drawing technique and saturated pigments of del Chierico’s early works to the briskly sketched figures and delicate palette of his documented, post-1463 manuscripts.

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1
Detail of the pink background under magnification (25x). The FORS spectrum (below) allows the identification of an organic red, with a reflectance minimum at c. 558 nm, on a gypsum substrate (absorption bands at 1448 and 1941 nm).
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2
Detail of the cherub’s face under magnification (12.5x). XRF analysis (below) reveals the presence of lead white (Pb) and an earth pigment (Fe) in the salmon-coloured wash present on the face.
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3
Detail of the cherub’s face under magnification (20x).
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4
Detail of the cherub’s face under magnification (20x). XRF analysis of his brown hair (below) reveals the presence of mosaic gold (Sn, tin and S, sulphur) and lead white (Pb).

The dedication to Louis XI of France is written in gold and azurite blue capitals within a blue, green and pink medallion (hotspot 1) supported and flanked by cherubs (putti). It is surmounted by the royal arms of France, also supported by putti, with two more kneeling above the shield. The putti’s flesh tones and hair were painted with a subtle but effective technique which exploits the creamy white colour and the texture of the parchment, which is left showing in most areas (hotspots 2-4).