Maruflage is an ancient artistic process of bonding two painting supports - usually canvas over wood - to enhance durability and texture. Used by Egyptians, Byzantine artists, and masters like Van Eyck and Ingres, this technique blends craftsmanship with preservation, giving paintings strength and longevity.
Definition: Maruflag is the process that consists of gluing together two supports (for painting), one flexible over another rigid one.
History: It is a process that was used by the Egyptians on sarcophagi, but also by Greek painters. Wooden panels were perhaps the most often covered with canvas throughout different historical stages and inspired painters such as: Van Dyck, Murillo, Ingres, Grigorescu. Byzantine painters often resorted to this method by covering linen or hemp canvas over wooden panels. Perhaps one of the most famous works painted on a wooden panel covered with canvas is that of the brothers Jan and Hubert van Eyck, the Triptych Adoration of the Mystic Lamb.
Jan van Eyck – Altarpiece of the Mystic Lamb (open)
Technical details: There are several supports that can be maruflated, so we can have:
A particularly important role in establishing the characteristics of this technology is played by the adhesive substances, that is, the glues (the substance that glues the two supports). Over time, casein glue has proven to have the best qualities, but gelatin glue (a little more elastic), fish glue, food gelatin and leather glue have also been used.
Execution stages
How to do it practically? First, treat the wood (or cardboard) with a solution of hot glue (120 gr. per 1 liter of water, which is soaked the day before) and leave it to dry for a day. Then, impregnate it once more in the same glue solution, in which the canvas is also soaked, after which it is spread on the wooden panel (or cardboard). The canvas is spread along the folds with the palm of your hand and will cover the edges, and on the back it will be glued up to 2 cm from the edges.
Animal glue
Other maruflable supports:
- Paper maruflable on canvas can be a durable support, being recommended even by Leonardo da Vinci in the practice of workshops;
- Canvas maruflable on another canvas, reinforces the fragility of a thin canvas. The process is mainly used in restoration;
- Canvas (or paper) maruflable on cardboard is a good alternative for increasing its rigidity
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