Banner with moon and star

The infrared reflectogram reveals a painted lay-in of the banner with the star and crescent moon more clearly than it does the underdrawing. In this lay-in, we see the two motifs laterally reversed vis-à-vis the final version. The star was originally larger, and displayed ridges along the middle of the individual rays. In addition, the banner and streamer had a pale lower border. In the final painted version, the positions of the moon and star are reversed, the star is reduced in size, and the pale lower border was replaced by a monochrome blue coloration. Interestingly, both versions of the moon-and-star arrangement can be found in contemporary depictions of the arms of the Magi (see Codex Gelre and Richental Chronicle).

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