Integrating Material Analysis, Radiocarbon Dating, and Technical Examination in the Dating and Provenance Study of a Copy of Raphael’s “The Great Holy Family of Francis I”

In 2016, five fragments from a copy of “The Great Holy Family of Francis I” were brought to the Cologne Institute of Conservation Sciences (CICS) for research and conserva-tion/restoration. A comprehensive technical and material analysis was carried out to as-sist provenance studies. From the analysis of pigments, binder, additives, and canvas fi-bres alongside radiocarbon dating of the lead white pigment, oil binder, and canvas sup-port, as well as the lead stable isotope study, it could be determined that, with high proba-bility, the copy was created in Northern Europe between the late 16th century and the mid-17th century. During this period the original painting was initially displayed in Fon-tainebleau in the “Chapelle Haute” before being transferred in the early 17th century to the newly built “Cabinet des Peintures”, also in Fontainebleau, where it would probably have been more accessible for copying. Interestingly, the written sources describe a copy made during this period to replace the original in the “Chapelle Haute”, the location of which is currently not known. However, the different overall dimensions of the present copy speak against it, having been created to replace the original.