3.2 Template for Submitting Additions to the DttG Database
The DttG project is conceived as a collaborative resource, and we warmly invite contributions from external researchers and institutions. Any information on preparatory layers of paintings dating between c. 1550 and 1650, whether drawn from technical studies, conservation records, or unpublished observations, can be incorporated into the database. To discuss potential contributions, please contact hall-aquitania@rkd.nl.
Link to Excel submission template
To make the submission process as straightforward as possible, we have designed an Excel template that mirrors the database structure. The template contains five sheets:
- HOW TO USE – a short step-by-step guide for completing the template.
- Artworks – the basic record of the painting and its metadata (title, artist, date, museum, etc.)
- Data – the corresponding technical observations about preparatory layers.
- Colours (locked) – a reference table for the controlled vocabulary of colour codes used in the database.
- Reliability rating (locked) – a reference table for the reliability system, used to assess the quality of the evidence.
The process is simple. Contributors first enter the artwork and its metadata in the Artworks sheet, and then supply the corresponding ground-layer information in the Data sheet, using the same ID number in both places. Controlled terms for colour and reliability can be selected with the help of the reference sheets. If multiple artworks are submitted, each should receive its own new ID number. Completed templates should then be sent by email to the project team.
Submissions are reviewed quarterly by the database managers, who check entries for consistency and integrate them into the central system. At this stage, the team ensures that artists, museums, and other metadata fields are linked correctly to the controlled vocabularies used in the database. This process balances ease of entry for contributors, who need only provide essential metadata and technical data, with the rigour needed to maintain internal consistency and reliability.