XXIInd Symposium

The international and interdisciplinary biennial ‘Symposium for the Study of Underdrawing and Technology in Painting’ takes place on 28, 29 and 30 March 2022 via Zoom.

THEME
‘Alla Maniera’ Technical art history and the meaning of style in 15th to 17th century painting

Ever since 15th and early 16th century writers used the word maniera to describe an artist’s personal style, the term has known many ambivalent meanings. Alla maniera di … implied the deliberate and eclectic imitation of someone else’s style (for example that of Raphael or Michelangelo) and also offered the possibility that an artist had more than one maniera at his or her disposal.

This ambivalence presents a challenge for stylistic analysis which has always been an important art historical tool for dating, situating and attributing works of art. For painting, this has traditionally been limited to the surface appearance but technical examination and scientific analysis now reveal additional layers of information that may offer a better and even different understanding of style. Infrared photography and reflectography can reveal underdrawing and offer insights on technique and working methods. Imagery and analysis often bring to light more details on the development of the composition, the paint layer structure and materials used. Recent developments in artificial intelligence may offer alternative perspectives on these questions.

The symposium focusses on how technical research can provide additional insights or challenges concerning the style of an individual painter, a workshop or a group of painters. Stylistic similarities might indicate cultural, social, geographical or chronological connections in paintings, drawings, prints, applied arts, etc. as well as across artistic media.

The language of the symposium is English. The papers will be published by Peeters Publishers.
Registration:
https://www.museabrugge.be/de/collecties/xxiind-symposium-for-the-study-of-underdrawing-and-technology-in-painting/register

PROGRAMME

MONDAY 28 MARCH 2022

14:00-14:05 Opening words – Anne van Oosterwijk

SESSION I
14:05-14:35 Keynote Lecture – Stephan Kemperdick: Hugo van der Goes’s idiosyncrasies and maniera in visible and in infrared light
14:35-14:45 Discussion
14:45-15:00 Break
15:00-15:20 Carol Pottasch and Kirsten Derks: Rogier van der Weyden’s Lamentation
15:20-15:40 Koen Janssens, Steven de Meyer, Frederik Vanmeert, Geert Van der Snickt and Jana Sanyova: Did Jan van Eyck use a type of natural ultramarine specific
for his workshop?
15:40-16:00 Anabelle Kriznar: Style, Painting Procedures, Techniques and Materials as Tools for the Attribution of Selected Mural Paintings in Eastern Europe (beginning of 15th century)
16:00-16:10 Discussions
16:10-16:25 Break

SESSION II
16:25-16:45 Sponsor session – Opus Instruments / Andrew Kirby
16:45-17:05 Sara Mateu: The Halved Memling: Insights into the Phoebus Nativity
17:05-17:25 S. Hennen, P.H.O.V. Campos, V.S. Felix, R.P. Freitas, E.A.M. Kajiya, A.R. Pimenta, M.A. Rizzutto and C. Winter: Rediscovering the Museu de Art de São Paolo’s Memling by Technical Examination
17:25-17:35 Discussion
17:35-17:50 Break
17:50-18:10 Jan Bustin and Abbie Vandivere: A Matter of Manner? Material Aspects of Style and Reconstructions as a Research Tool
18:10-18:30 Charlene Vella: An Analytical Investigation onto two Antonello da Messina’s Nephews’ Workshop Practices with Insights on Antonio de Saliba and Salvo d’Antonio
18:30-18:50 Elsa Espin: The Northern Way. Engraving Success in Catalan and European Painting around 1500
18:50-19:00 Discussion

TUESDAY 29 MARCH 2022

SESSION I
14:00-14:30 Keynote Lecture - Rachel Billinge: The Advantages of Collaboration?
14:30-14:40 Discussion
14:40-14:55 Break
14:55-15:15 Joanna Zwinczak: Painted Sketch as the Underlayer of the Lusina Polyptych
15:15-15:35 Celine Talon: Palettes as Indicators of Style and Technique in Renaissance and Early Modern Northern Self-Portraits
15:35-15:55 H.P. Melo, A.J. Cruz, S. Valadas and A. Candeias: The Drawing Hand of a Portuguese Mannerist Painter
15:55-16:05 Discussion
16:05-16:20 Break

SESSION II
16:20-16:40 Sponsor session – Bruker / Michele Gironda, Roald Tagle, Scanning X-ray and Hyperspectral analysis of materials - Solutions for Cultural Heritage studies
16:40-17:00 Sarah Yeomans Gafà: The Technique of Filippo Paladini: a Case Study of his 16th-Century Wall Paintings at Verdala Palace, Buskett, Malta
17:00-17:20 Laura Baratin, Francesca Gasparetto and Paolo Triolo: Studying the Preparatory Drawing through Digital Tools. The Barocci’s Paintings and his Bottega
17:20-17:30 Discussion
17:30-17:45 Break
17:45-18:05 Marcia Steele: Andrea del Sarto Sacrifice of Isaac. Technical Research and Comparative Study
18:05-18:25 S. Hennen, P.H.O.V. Campos, V.S. Felix, R.P. Freitas, E.A.M. Kajiya, A.R. Pimenta, M.A. Rizzutto,and C. Winter: From Da Vinci to Massys: New Insights thanks to Recent Unequal Marriage’s In-depth Examination
18:25-18:45 Joyce Klein Koerkamp: Alla maniera di Gerard David? Stylistic Irregularities in Ambrosius Benson’s Œuvre
18:45-18:55 Discussion

WEDNESDAY 30 MARCH 2022

SESSION I
14:00-14:20 Lucy David and Anne van Oosterwijk: The Allegory of True Love by Pieter Pourbus
14:20-14:40 Björn Blauensteiner: The Practice of Under- and Overdrawing in the Pulkau Altarpiece. A Case Study on Austrian Painting in the Age of Dürer
14:40-15:00 Ciprian Firea and Cristina Serendan: A ‘Nuremberg’ Workshop in Remote Transylvania? Investigations on Early 16th Century Altarpieces Painted in Sighișoara /Schässburg
15:00-15:10 Discussion
15:10-15:25 Break
15:25-15:45 Christiane Weber, Mareike Gerken and Almut Pollmer-Schmidt: Elsheimer’s Creative Process. New Research on the Frankfurt Altarpiece of the True Cross
15:45-16:05 Christina Currie: The Arbroath Sermon of St John the Baptist by Pieter Brueghel the Younger : a Rare Pastiche
16:05-16:25 Kirsten Derks, Geert Van der Snickt, Stijn Legrand, Kathlijne Van der Stighelen and Koen Janssens: Michael Sweerts and his Manner of the Dark Halo.
16:25-16:35 Discussion
16:35-16:50 Break

SESSION II
16:50-17:10 Sabrina Meloni and Marya Albrecht: The Versatile Style of Jan Steen. How he varies the Preparations of his Composition during his Career and according to the Subject
17:10-17:30 Michela Fasce: Alla maniera di... Anton Van Dijck Genoese. Technique, Design, Development
17:30-17:50 Stefania Girometti and Claudio Seccaroni: Michele Desubleo’s Saint Luke. Technique in Context and the Creation of a Maniera
17:50-18:10 Lisa Wiersma: The Appeal of the Seemingly Real. Standardization of Painting Methods and its Implications for Style in 17th-Century Still-life Painting
18:10-18:20 Discussion
18:20-18:25 Announcement of the next symposium
END OF PROGRAMME