As the National Gallery prepares for a major reveal, focus has shifted to the Wilton Diptych, where its dating remains debated. The diptych features King Richard II and its creation timeline is unclear, straddling his early and later life. In late 2022, dendrochronology was commissioned to date the wood used for painting, but the gallery has withheld this analysis under the Freedom of Information Act, citing plans to release findings in a new catalogue by mid-2024, prompting discussions on the balance between institutional secrecy and public interest.
The National Gallery's decision to withhold the Wilton Diptych dendrochronology report shows how public institutions balance transparency and their own publishing timelines.
While scholars have debated the date of the Wilton Diptych, the recent dendrochronology analysis may provide the crucial information needed for its definitive dating.
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