Hidden Layers: Painting and Process in Europe, 1500–1800 May 26–September 3, 2018
![Tosini - Saint Mary Magdalene](https://static.mfah.com/images/tosini---saint-mary-magdalene.2657508427094519564.jpg?width=290)
Michele Tosini, Saint Mary Magdalene, 1560s, oil on wood, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the Samuel H. Kress Collection.
This infrared reflectogram of Michele Tosini’s Saint Mary Magdalene shows the artist’s expressive underdrawing, particularly visible in the folds of the garment.
Unknown artist, possibly French, Saint Paul Writing His Epistles, c. 1618–20, oil on canvas, Sarah Campbell Blaffer Foundation, Houston.
The x-radiograph of Saint Paul Writing His Epistles reveals two different compositions underneath the final painting. See the next two images for details.
Here, x-radiography of Saint Paul Writing His Epistles shows an earlier composition underneath. Outlined in yellow: An artist is at work in the studio.
Italian, Portrait of a Boy Holding a Book, 1560s, oil on wood, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the Samuel H. Kress Collection.
This infrared reflectogram of Portrait of a Boy Holding a Book reveals another portrait underneath. The eyes of the previous subject are especially noticeable.
Installation view of Hidden Layers: Painting and Process in Europe, 1500–1800
Installation view of Hidden Layers: Painting and Process in Europe, 1500–1800
This exhibition celebrates the Museum’s new Sarah Campbell Blaffer Foundation Center for Conservation, opening later this year. Hidden Layers: Painting and Process in Europe, 1500–1800 highlights recent technical findings for European paintings in the Blaffer and MFAH collections.
The imaging techniques of x-radiography and infrared reflectography have uncovered preparatory layers and underlying changes in the paintings. Now, the materials throughout the entire depth of a painting, or just below the visible surface, can be seen.
Sometimes major, spectacular transformations are revealed, with entirely different compositions underneath. Other examples show the brilliance of an artist’s underdrawing, or subtle alterations of line as the design is refined and developed. In all of them, details of the artists’ working methods—as well as clues to original and changing artistic intention—are made clearer by discovering what lies in the hidden layers.
Hidden Layers also features important Old Master prints from the Blaffer Collection that show wonderful interpretations of the artist at work in the studio. Some of the images are allegorical, and some are straightforwardly descriptive, but all are superb works of art in their own right.
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Delve into the details! Explore the paintings and conservation techniques in depth: Look through the exhibition labels and text panels, filled with images and background information.
Hidden Layers: Painting and Process in Europe, 1500–1800 | May 26–September 3, 2018
This exhibition is organized by the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.