The team moved into Berlin for two days studying two objects in the collection of the Bode on the Museumsinsel: our 7th Matilda and our 2nd Cristo Vivo (after the model made for the 5 casts of this work for the altars of St. Peter’s).   

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Our studies were supported by curator Dr. María López-Fanjul, and especially Sophie Hoffmann, objects conservator, in whose lab overlooking the Spree we did our studies. Enrico was able to do his work in the well-equipped photography studio.

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The Matilda is starting to feel like an old friend. One peculiarity we noted on this cast was the extensive mimicking in the wax inter-model of the tool marks that were present in the (lost) terracotta model. We have seen this before, but not to this extent. Scans and photographic comparisons of many details will help us continue to develop the story of the kinds of small variations we have seen due to changes to the wax inter-models in each and every cast so far: especially visible in the papal tiara and the head and tiara of Matilda; shoes or toes (shoes here!); the baton; the mounting angle, height and degree of smoothing of the base. 

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The beautifully cast and finished Crucifix held a fantastic surprise: an inscription and several stamps. Assistant Curator Lilla Mátyók-Engel jumpstarted the research on the marks which we continue to investigate. Stay tuned.