A Masterly Hand / Scientia Artis 9

would be to simply season the wood in the existing conditions by letting it dry gradually over time. In the case of the New York and Tours St Rochs, the workshops seem to have worked in synergy with the drying wood,­ repairing the cracks that formed during the carving process. The sculptures exhibit radial checks, fractures and numerous repairs such as wood wedges throughout the surface. Both present a large rectangular dowel in the front Fig. 15.9 New York St Roch, back Fig. 15.10 Henrick Douwerman, St John the Baptist, oak, 87.8 cm, after 1530, Kalkar, St Nicholas’s Church, back Fig. 15.11 Tours St Roch, back 15.9