A Masterly Hand / Scientia Artis 9

­ sgraffito palmettes in the same colours and separated from each other by an undulating line. The Virgin’s shoes are richly ornamented with a blue and gold decoration in sgraffito producing a network of quatrefoils, while the sole is studded with dots, also in blue and gold sgraffito . The flesh tones of both figures are very pale, almost white, presenting a very smooth surface with an enamel-like appearance typical of this period ( fig. 1 4.8). 10 T he round, bright pink cheeks were painted wet-in-wet. The ­ greyish-brown irises are surrounded by a black circle. The upper eyelids are emphasised with black and each brown eyelash is rendered with a single fine brush stroke. The eyebrows, placed quite high on the forehead, are painted with a yellow stroke, on top of which some brown hairs are drawn in. The inner corners of the eyes are enhanced with red paint. The mouths are painted with a red glaze on a matt red underlayer. On the hair, the gilding with an ochre mordant is applied on an orange underlayer to obtain a slightly reddish-gold tone. The bird in the Child’s left hand is painted with a green transparent glaze on a gilded surface. Even its claws are finely depicted on the Child’s left knee. 14.8 Fig. 14.8 The Virgin’s head