Elena Rossi
In the art world, the act of painting over another painting is referred to as overpainting or pentimento (the latter is the Italian word for repentance). Overpainting is a common practice in art restoration and conservation, where it is used to improve or update an old image. It can also be used to disguise the identity of the subject of a painting to reduce scandal, as was the case with Madame X, a famous portrait donated to The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1916. Overpainting can also be done intentionally as a form of contemporary art, where artists source thrift shop paintings and add their own alterations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Term | Pentimento, Overpainting |
| Origin | Italian |
| Meaning | Repentance |
| Definition | The presence or emergence of earlier images, forms, or strokes that have been changed and painted over |
| Usage | Alteration in a painting evidenced by traces of previous work |
| Usage Examples | The Cardsharps by Caravaggio, Christ and the Virgin in the House at Nazareth by Zurbarán, Flora by Rembrandt, Manet’s Le déjeuner sur l'herbe, View of Scheveningen Sands by Hendrick van Anthonissen |
| Modern Usage | Appearance of the sides of buildings with painted advertising |
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What You'll Learn
- The process of painting over another painting is called 'pentimento' or 'overpainting'
- Pentimento is derived from the Italian word 'pentirsi', meaning 'to repent'
- Pentimenti can be revealed by the increasing transparency of paint over time
- Overpainting can be used to improve or update an old image
- X-rays are used to examine paintings and see what lies beneath the surface
The process of painting over another painting is called 'pentimento' or 'overpainting'
The process of painting over another painting has two names: pentimento and overpainting.
Pentimento
Pentimento is an Italian word that refers to an alteration to a painting, resulting in the recovery of a portion or all of a work. The word is derived from the Italian verb pentirsi, meaning 'to repent'. In the context of art, pentimento means "the presence or emergence of earlier images, forms, or strokes that have been changed and painted over". It is important to note that for marks on a painting to be considered pentimenti, the changes must have been made by the original painter themselves.
Overpainting
Overpainting is the process of adding final layers of paint over some type of underpainting. It can also refer to later paint added by restorers or an artist wishing to "improve" or update an old image. When done properly, overpainting does not completely obscure the underpainting, and the interaction between the two can create interesting effects.
Both terms refer to the process of painting over another painting, but pentimento is more specifically used to describe the emergence of earlier images or forms that have been painted over, while overpainting refers to the act of adding new layers of paint.
The distinction between singular and plural forms of pentimento is flexible. Some writers refer to a change of just one outline as a pentimento, while others treat each area that has been changed as a single pentimento. The term has also been used in a modern sense to describe the appearance of the sides of buildings with painted advertising, where old ads are painted over with newer ones and the paint wears away to reveal the older layers.
Examples of Pentimenti in Art
- Caravaggio's The Cardsharps, which has several minor pentimenti altering the position of the figure on the right.
- Zurbarán's Christ and the Virgin in the House at Nazareth, where the size of a white cloth was expanded after the dark background underpainting had been applied.
- Rembrandt's 1654 portrait Flora, which depicts the Roman goddess of spring and has elements of pentimento, such as a double hat brim where the artist overpainted.
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Pentimento is derived from the Italian word 'pentirsi', meaning 'to repent'
The word for painting over another painting is "pentimento" (plural: pentimenti). It is derived from the Italian word "pentirsi", meaning "to repent". In painting, a pentimento refers to "the presence or emergence of earlier images, forms, or strokes that have been changed and painted over". The term is used to describe an alteration to a painting, often referring to the process where artists make changes during the composition of the artwork, usually between underpainting and subsequent layers.
The word "pentimento" is occasionally used synonymously with "palimpsest", but the latter term is typically used for documents and parchments that have been reused due to fading. The term "pentimento" is also used in a modern context to describe the appearance of the sides of buildings with painted advertising. As paint wears away, older layers of advertisements are revealed.
Pentimenti may indicate that a composition originally included an element, such as a head or hand, in a slightly different position, or that an element was planned but ultimately omitted from the final painting. These changes may be made to the underdrawing, or by making the visible layers of paint differ from the underdrawing, or by overpainting the first painted treatment of an element. Some pentimenti have always been visible upon close inspection, while others are revealed as paint becomes more transparent over time.
The discovery of pentimenti can provide fascinating insights into an artist's process and past lifestyles. For example, pentimenti were discovered in Zurbarán's "Christ and the Virgin in the House at Nazareth", revealing that the size of a white cloth was expanded after the application of the dark background underpainting. In Rembrandt's 1654 portrait "Flora", depicting the Roman goddess of spring, a double hat brim suggests that the artist overpainted the original treatment.
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Pentimenti can be revealed by the increasing transparency of paint over time
The term "pentimento" refers to the compositional changes made by an artist while painting. Pentimenti can be revealed as the upper layer of paint fades away or becomes transparent over time. This phenomenon is common in paintings that are several centuries old, and it provides valuable insights into the artist's thought process and original intent.
The Italian word "pentimento" means "repentance" or "to repent", reflecting a change of mind by the artist. While some pentimenti have always been visible upon careful inspection, others become apparent as the paint becomes more transparent with age. This increasing transparency can be observed over centuries, allowing art historians and conservators to discover hidden stories and alterations within the artwork.
Infrared reflectography, X-rays, and photographs are modern methods employed to reveal pentimenti. These techniques capture the underlying pigments and their chemical composition, providing a detailed understanding of the painting's history. For example, X-ray analysis of Jan van Eyck's "The Arnolfini Wedding" revealed changes in the position of a figure's hand and modifications to the feet and leg area.
Pentimenti play a crucial role in authenticating artworks. Original paintings often contain hidden changes, whereas secondary versions or copies tend to have none or fewer pentimenti. The presence of pentimenti can indicate that the work is not a forgery, as forgers are less likely to make alterations to the original composition.
Additionally, pentimenti can provide insight into an artist's creative process and decision-making. For instance, Pablo Picasso's "The Old Guitarist" and "The Blue Room" are renowned for their pentimenti. Due to a lack of art supplies during his "Blue Period", Picasso often reused canvases, resulting in underlying compositions being painted over.
In summary, pentimenti are compositional changes made by an artist that can be revealed over time as paint becomes more transparent. This phenomenon has been observed in numerous famous artworks, providing valuable insights into the creative process and aiding in the authentication of paintings.
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Overpainting can be used to improve or update an old image
Overpainting is a technique used in art to refer to the final layers of paint applied over an underpainting. It can be employed by artists, restorers, or dealers to enhance or modernise an old image, creating a more powerful and resonant piece. This practice has been prevalent in many art schools, with notable examples seen in the works of Jan van Eyck and Hanneke van Oosterhout.
The process of overpainting allows for the creation of interesting effects through the interaction of the final and underlying layers of paint. When done skillfully, overpainting can enhance the underlying composition without completely obscuring it. This technique has been used throughout art history, with some spectacular results. However, distinguishing between overpainting and underpainting in historical artworks can be challenging without the use of scientific tests, such as X-rays.
The term "pentimento" (plural: pentimenti) is also associated with overpainting. Derived from the Italian word "pentirsi," meaning "to repent," pentimento refers to the emergence of earlier images, forms, or strokes that have been painted over. It implies a change of mind by the artist during the creative process. While pentimenti may indicate the alteration of specific elements in a composition, they can also reveal completely different subjects, as seen in Picasso's "The Old Guitarist."
Pentimenti can provide fascinating insights into the creative process and the evolution of a painting. They can also help experts authenticate a work, as forgers are less likely to make changes to their copies. However, artists may be hesitant to have former versions of their paintings revealed, as they can be seen as imperfections or signs of indecision.
Overpainting has also been used in a broader context, such as in the appearance of painted advertisements on buildings. As old ads are painted over with newer ones, the paint wears away over time, exposing the underlying layers and creating a unique visual effect.
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X-rays are used to examine paintings and see what lies beneath the surface
The act of painting over another painting is called "overpainting". X-ray radiography is a non-destructive technique used to examine paintings and see what lies beneath the surface. It involves passing X-rays through a painting to reveal the different materials used and their layers. This technique was first discovered by German physicist Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen in 1895, and its application to the study of artworks was quickly recognised. By 1896, Frankfurt-based professor Walter König had successfully produced an X-radiograph of a painting.
X-rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation with very short wavelengths and high energy, allowing them to pass through most solid objects. When used on paintings, different materials interact with the X-rays, attenuating or blocking them to varying degrees depending on their chemical composition and thickness. For example, areas of paintings containing high atomic weight elements like lead appear white due to strong X-ray attenuation, while areas composed of carbon and other light elements allow X-rays to pass through, resulting in dark or black areas.
By examining the X-ray radiographs, conservators and art historians can gain valuable insights into the painting's history, the artist's techniques, and any modifications made during its creation. For instance, they can identify pentimenti, which are changes made by the original artist, such as altering the position of a figure or painting over an earlier composition. The presence of pentimenti can also help experts determine the authenticity of a painting, as forgers are less likely to make such changes.
The use of X-ray radiography is advantageous as it does not damage the artwork, providing a safe way to study and conserve paintings. It has been routinely used by institutions such as the NGV paintings conservation studio and the Saint Louis Art Museum to uncover hidden details and stories within artworks. Through the use of X-rays, experts can learn about an artist's techniques, make discoveries about the painting's history, and gain a better understanding of the materials used, all of which contribute to the preservation and appreciation of art.
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Frequently asked questions
The word for painting over another painting is "overpainting". It refers to the final layers of paint over some type of underpainting.
Yes, the Italian word "pentimento" (plural: pentimenti) is also used. It means 'repentance' and refers to the presence or emergence of earlier images, forms, or strokes that have been changed and painted over.
By using different intensities of X-rays, experts can see different layers of paint and determine whether a canvas was ever painted over.
