Revealing the Archetype: The Journey of a Trecento Madonna and Child at the National Museum of Scotland

摘要

The National Museums Scotland Madonna andudChild project sought to uncover and documentudthe history of a fine polychrome wood carvingudattributed to The Master of the Gualino StudCatherine and to prepare it for display. A newudbody of knowledge has been assembled byudthe interdisciplinary team. The conservationudtreatment was informed by this work and ledudto further discoveries: the removal of overpaintudexposing a previously hidden underdrawing.udThe ethics of the treatment decisions, includingudthe removal of the Christ Child’s 1960s’ fingers required team dialogue and was opened up forudthe public to respond to in a series of blogs.udThe discovery of a rich polychromy includingudgold and glazed tin has led to further plans toudproduce a 3-D colour reconstruction. The collaborationsuddeveloped during this project willudfacilitate future joint ventures for polychromeudsculpture in Scottish collections.