Resumen de Van Dyck and the Mayerne: a cautionary note regarding the manuscript
Theodore de Mayerne's entries on Van Dyck's technique in his famous manuscript have been much quoted in both art historical and technical literature. Through comparison of the Mayerne's information with the results of analysis of Van Dick's paint, and as a result of a detailed study of the manuscript itself, this paper shows that Van Dyck's answers were largely evasive, negative and obfuscatory. It also shows that de Mayerne's own preocupations influenced the content of the book. Although many painters and craftsmen might have been open about their materials, the reader should approach the manuscript with care and interpret individual entries not only against other studies of the artista in question but also in the context of the whole manuscript.
