The Structural Conservation of Panel Paintings

Panel

Earliest

Dowelled Planks Splits

la tti ce

Panel

Earliest

Dowelled Planks Splits

lat ti ce

planks joined parallel to the longer edge, decreasing the work necessary

for assembly.^13 The Visitation^14 by Tommaso Manzuoli (Keith 1994) and the

Transfigurationby Raphael are both large by any standard. Most of the ver-

tical planks ofthe Manzuoli are extended and consist of two planks joined

end to end. In contrast, the planks of the Raphael are remarkably long,

and they are not extended.

Large panels in portrait format with horizontally disposed planks

are more prone to structural problems. Greater and more concentrated

weight and greater warp movement provoke damage. For example, a

largepanel by Vittore Carpaccio,^15 though still ofapproximately original

P A   S C  L P P 451

c