Close Looking: Annibale Carracci
Getty senior conservator Ulrich Birkmaier invites us into the conservation studio to see a late 1500s masterpiece in a new light
Body Content
“Many paintings on copper are in just beautiful condition, and this is no exception,” says Getty senior conservator Ulrich Birkmaier of Madonna and Child with Saints Lucy, Dominic, and Louis of France.
This painting was rendered by the masterful hand of Annibale Carracci, one of the founding fathers of Italian Baroque, and it’s the joyful job of Birkmaier to restore it. Part of that joy comes from uncovering the methods Carracci used to ensure its preservation, including his use of garlic juice in preparing the copper foundation.
In the second season of Getty’s Close Looking video series, Getty conservators explore the details of artworks they cherish. For this installment, Birkmaier uses magnifying devices to show how the copper foundation gave the painting’s surface its “jewel-like quality.” He also spotlights Carracci’s brushstrokes and details like a sandaled foot, a vase of flowers, and a delicate hand holding a book—all of which continue to captivate over 400 years later.
Learn more by watching the video below!
Get an insider’s view of more works of art in Getty’s Close Looking series, in which art experts and enthusiasts around Getty share some of their favorite works of art.
