Weiß oder doch nicht Weiß?

Vorstellung erster Untersuchungsergebnisse zu den Weißfassungen im Cuvilliés-Theater, Residenz München

Abstract

White or not White? The Initial Results of the Examination of the White Monochromy of the Cuvilliés-Theatre, Residenz Munich

Since September 2005 the rococo theatre in the Munich Residence, which was designed by François Cuvilliés in the 18th century and reconstructed between1956–1958, is undergoing major renovation. During the coarse of refurbishing the outdated electrical installations and stage technology the theatre's interior will also undergo restoration. In 2003 initial examination was carried out on the polychrome woodwork carved by Johann Baptist Straub. The original surface of the white, guilding, red lacquer and marble imitation was only found in a few areas, most surfaces are still overpainted. The original as well as the later monochrome white surfaces vary in their gloss and colour, which ranges from white to grey. The flesh paint of the figures has its original layers of polished lead white while other areas were painted with matter mixtures of chalk, gypsum, some lead white, smalt and black pigments. In comparison with other white objects and with recipes in paint manuals the examination results of the multilayered white surfaces in the Cuvilliés-Theatre show the wide variety and diversity of 18th century monochrome white artefacts.