Mengs and the Palmezzano, and they were conserved within the limita-
tions of their current structure and condition.
Though disjoins in smaller panels may be glued and rejoined in
one operation using appropriate apparatus, larger breaks take more time,
so that glues tend to set, or “go off,” earlier than desired. The procedure
must be well prepared if time is a factor (see Brewer, “Some Rejoining
Methods,” herein).
Alternatively, using inserts, the conservator may rejoin a long
joint progressively by working along it in discrete stages.^49 If this method
is used, it is important to ensure correct alignment in all three dimensions
from the beginning. If the relative positions of the joint faces have been
incorrectly aligned and fixed in the early stages ofrejoining, they mayP A S C L P P 467Figure 15
South Netherlands, Triptych of the Holy Family
and the Trinity,ca. 1510. Oil on panel, 1500
(center) 31500 3 15 mm thick (visual esti-
mates). Wallraf-Richartz-Museum (INV
WRM416), Cologne. An altarpiece consisting
of oak planks rejoined with V-shaped inserts
of oak, probably to reestablish an overall flat
plane after the planks developed set convex
warps (viewed from the front).
Figure 16a, b
Marco Palmezzano, The Mystic Marriage of
Saint Catherine. The painting, in raking light
on the left, beforestructural work (a) and after
structural work and before retouching (b).
ab