Unveiling the Lamentation of Christ by Rogier van der Weyden and his workshop: Discoveries made during a restoration treatment

The Lamentation of Christ (c. 1444-60) by Rogier van der Weyden and his workshop was recently conserved and restored at the Mauritshuis in The Hague (treatment 2016-21). The exact attribution and dating of the painting have been debated for at least two centuries. Since entering the museum’s collection in 1827 as a work by Hans Memling, records show that the painting has only undergone minor restoration treatments. Although it remained in excellent structural condition, its aesthetic condition had declined due to old varnishes and discoloured overpaint. This hindered the appreciation of the artist’s original intentions, fine details, and subtle colour modelling.Before the recent restoration, a detailed scientific examination was conducted to gain a deeper understanding of the artist’s materials and techniques. One of the methods used was multi-scale optical coherence tomography (MS-OCT), which visualised original and non-original (semi-) transparent layers. Combined with evidence gathered during conservation and restoration, data from this scientific research provided information about (undocumented) early restoration treatments, insights into the artist’s intentions, particularly regarding the original colours, and details that confirmed the painting’s early role as a devotional altarpiece.