the paint surface (Fig. 17d), to protect the painting edges from careless
handling and frame rubs (see Fig. 4a for damage from frame rubs).
The lattice was assembled with aluminum-reinforced joints and
various fasteners of brass and stainless steel. It was made as lightweight as
possible and was thinly constructed to facilitate framing. Because of its
prototypical nature, it had to be capable of disassembly to any stage, a
characteristic it retains. The battens were made of equal thickness and
then tapered to adjust their flexibility to the panel’s strength and potential
movement. The bottom ledge of the peripheral frame was kerf-sawed for
flexibility. Both battens and ledge were steam-bent to approximate the
panel’s overall deflection when equilibrated to about 60% RH.^52
To attach the lattice, four vertical retaining strips were cut and
positioned at regular intervals across the panel back. The strips were slid
through retainers of poplar that were glued to the panel back. Potential
stresses on the retainers were spread locally with baseplates of poplar.P A S C L P P 469Figure 17a–d
Marco Palmezzano, TheMystic Marriage of
Saint Catherine. After treatment, showing the
back (a) with reinforcement attached; the
retaining strip (b), with its stepped profile,
being slid upward one “step” for removal; the
same area with the strip removed (c), showing
the retainers and baseplates and the tapered
battens next to the panel surface; the lower
left corner of the front (d), showing edge pro-
tection and the bottom ledge, which is kerf-
sawed to increase its flexibility.
abcd