Materials and construction techniques used in two wax-cast figurines

Two very alike eighteenth-century statuettes (30 cm high) depicting Francis of Assisi, produced by casting and belonging nowadays to the same museum, allowed to unveil their construction techniques. Both are seventeen-parted artworks, most of the constitutive parts having been solid cast with a wax and Venice turpentine-based mixture, bound together by means of heat. For proper jointing between the figure and its base, an internal metal structure was used. The statuettes polychrome appearance arose from different batches of wax coloured from the block. However, the marble-like pedestal and St. Francis’ homespun were achieved afterwards to imitate to perfection the optical and tactile effects of these materials. The veining was done with melted wax and Prussian blue or vermilion, varnish was applied to the pedestal and matte gilding was performed on mouldings. A textured brown paint layer was applied over the garment, with additional fibers on one of the frock.