Medieval illuminations are known for surfaces of shimmering gold and brilliant color that delight the eye. A technology-aided glimpse through the surface reveals underdrawings in graphite or lead, made as guides for the artist. In this instance, infrared imaging highlights differences between the start and the finish of the illumination. For example, the musculature of the figure at lower left was worked out in great detail before being draped in blue cloth. Christ’s wounds, not indicated in the underdrawing, were added later during the painting process.
“Lallemant Missal,” in Latin, Tours, France, ca. 1500, illuminated for Guillaume Lallemant, canon and archdeacon of Tours, by Jean Poyer. Left: color image capture. Right: Pixelteq SWIR image capture at 1557 nm by Justine Provino and Abigail Merritt.