71 The Holy Cross retable ching focussed on enhancing contours of blue areas and gilded borders to establish a more readable situation. These retouches were executed in tratteggio. The retouching concept did not include any formal or pictorial reconstruction. The textile backing of the central niche During the examination, fragments of a dark textile covering that had been attached to the background boards of the niche with nails were found. This led to further survey and to the reconstruction of a textile backing. The decision was supported by the fact that modern black paint in a very simple and inferior quality had been applied instead, detracting the appearance. It was decided to reconstruct a dark textile backing on top of that black paint in a reversible manner. The decision was further supported by the fact that dark backgrounds can be found in most of the Holy Cross retables in Dalmatia. The reconstruction is based on a wooden fillet frame that is attached to the background panels with a few screws. A Velcro system is stapled to Fig. 110: After treatment Fig. 109: Cartouche “God Father”, after demounting, condition as found
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