The micrograph
of the sword was
photographed through
a microscope;
such an image is called
a micrograph.
This micrograph was captured under slightly raking light, which emphasizes irregularities in the surface. (Magnification: 8x)
The gilded background is made out of overlapping sheets of gold leaf. These leaves are extremely thin, around a quarter of a micrometer. Gilding is applied on bole, an adhesive layer that contains clay sediment and glue. Unlike the reddish material used for Italian works, the bole used in Netherlandish paintings is often yellow. Here this layer is visible through small losses in the gilding.
Click on the image above to return to the image of John the Baptist; click on the thumbnail below right to return to the full image of the Last Judgment.
