Project specification

The panel painting determines our perception of painting until today, with the representation of the human being as one of its most important tasks. The technical requirements, conditions and parameters of the origin of the panel painting and its further development are subject of this disciplines and epochs overarching research project. The history of development of the panel painting will be verified by the examination of representative examples from antiquity, the early and high Middle Ages in German museums, the churches of Rome and Florence as well as the Monastery of Mount Sinai St. Catherine. The focus is set on the execution of the flesh tones: Which technique was chosen in order to achieve certain effects at what time? How was the traditional knowledge from antiquity adapted? Is there any coherence between technique and function or original location of the painting? How are social changes and ideological reorientation reflected? The results of the examination will be presented through scientific publications and an extensive web based photo-database.