Search results for "Polychrome"

Dioniso a Centuripe: iconografia ‘teatrale’ e imagerie dionisiaca in contesto funerario

2021

The purpose of the paper is to bring together and to assess some strands of the funerary imagery elaborated in Centuripe (Sicily) in 3rd-1st centuries B.C., that until recently have been viewed in total isolation from each other. Dionysian themes and motifs have been variously identified in the local polychrome pottery, since the discovery, early in 20th century, of two impressive vases representing Dionysos himself in a relaxed pose; as opposed to the prevailing “bacchic-orphic” explanation, however, from the second half of past century the nuptial theme was considered to be the most important of the Centuripan vase inventory; finally, some scholars have argued that the repertory was not s…

THE ‘CRUCIFIED AND DEPOSED CHRIST’ OF MUSEO DIOCESANO OF PALERMO, ITALY. SCIENTIFIC STUDIES OF A SICILIAN PAPIER-MȂSCHÉ POLYCHROME SCULPTURE

2022

In this paper we describe scientific investigations on the artwork ‘Crucified and deposed Christ’ from the Diocesan Museum of Palermo. Multidisciplinary studies were carried out to obtain interesting information about constitutive materials and executive techniques of XVIII century Sicilian papier mâsché, as well as about the sculpture state of conservation and the recognition of the previous treatments.Examination of the polychrome sculpture was both non-invasive (IRR, IRC, UV fluorescence, EDXRF spectroscopy X-Radiography) and micro invasive (optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy SEM-EDX).SEM-EDX results showed the use of materials like…

Characterization of Maya Blue Pigment in Pre-Classic and Classic Monumental Architecture of the Ancient Pre-Culombian City of Calakmul (Campeche, Mex…

2011

This paper presents the first evidence of the use of Maya Blue pigment in late pre-classic (c.300BC-300AD) architecture in the Maya Lowlands. This was detected combining an innovative technique, the voltammetry of microparticles (VMP), with atomic force microscopy (AFM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (SEM/EDX), visible spectrophotometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The pigment was found on the polychrome facade of substructure IIC of pre-Columbian city of Calakmul (Campeche, Mexico). The identification of Maya Blue in this building may prove to be the earliest known use of this colour on the …

The triumphal cross of the cathedral of Nevers: painting technique and examination

2019

The large polychrome wooden cross preserved in the Saint-Cyr et Sainte-Julitte cathedral in Nevers was badly damaged during the bombing in July 1944. Restored and put on display on a modern cross in front of the choir, the sculpture suffered a new fall in 2015. The conservation of the work, directed by DRAC-CRMH of Burgundy-Franche-Comté, was preceded by a phase of technical study. Micro-stratigraphic, taxonomic and radiometric analyses and the dendrochronology of the cross were carried out. The dendrochronology of the cross of Nevers and the comparison with radiocarbon dating place the elaboration of the work in the last quarter of the 12th century while confirming the contemporaneousness …

Non-invasive characterization of archaeological polychrome pottery and metallic artefacts: advantage and limits of XRF in situ analysis

2014

Digital Technologies for the Fruition of Archaeological Heritage. The Visualisation of the Temple C Metopes Polychrome in Selinunte

2019

Through the tools of the representation this paper investigates a hypothetical virtual re-presentation of the metopes original polychromies. The reconstructive interpretative process was carried out through a critical reading of historical and iconographic sources. Starting from the reading of drawings made by Angell and Harris at the time of the archaeological finds, of Hittorff’s studies and watercolors, and of some coloured fragments still observable in the original metopes, the graphic elaborations that simulate the original polychromes have been prepared. The purpose of this study and of the analysis here described is the experimentation of an interactive visualisation application (aug…

The Potential Geosite of the “Libeccio Antico” Quarries: a Sedimentological and Stratigraphic Characterisation of Ornamental Stone from Mt Cocuccio, …

2018

The Custonaci marble district of western Sicily is known for the production of a valuable ornamental stone that has been, and nowadays is exploited due to its suitable properties and aesthetic qualities. The “Libeccio Antico” was, among the “marbles”, the most appreciated ornamental stone during the Baroque Age (the XVII–XVIII centuries), due to its strong polychrome contrasts from ivory to yellow, green or dark red. This polychrome pattern is the result of dissolution processes that involved an Upper Triassic peritidal limestone. The varicoloured sediments in paleocavities, collapse breccias, paleosols and neptunian dykes that occur in the “Libeccio Antico” represent the peculiar character…

Roman wood sculptures from Burgundy

2013

For the first time, the corpus of Roman wood sculptures from Burgundy is gathered together in a catalogue, with added photographic documents and bibliography. The twenty-five sculptures are listed and studied from a stylistic, iconographic and technical point of view. In the XIIth century, an actual school of monastic wood sculpture seemed to develop within the boundaries of the duchy of Burgundy, bringing a great diversity as far as formal and technical contributions are concerned. The sculptures that are the most representative to help the understanding of those numerous contributions are thoroughly studied. Their stylistic relationships with manuscripts dating back from the Carolingian R…

Analysis of pigments from Spanish works of art using a portable EDXRF spectrometer

2002

Nowadays there is an intensive program for the conservation, restoration and analysis of the impressive and extensive Spanish cultural heritage. In the last few years, the Unidad de Arqueometria of the ICMUV has carry out a great quantity of in situ EDXRF analysis of pigments on materials of historic and cultural interest (altarpieces, frescoes, canvas, sculptures, etc.) from museums and churches of the whole of the Spanish geography. Here we present a few examples of the analysis of works of art using x-ray fluorescence spectrometry with a portable system based on x-ray tubes and a non-cryogenic Si-PIN detector. EDXRF qualitative and non-destructive analyses of stone, pigments and preparat…

Multi-technical approach for the characterization of polychrome decorative surfaces at Spanish Mission Churches in Nueva Vizcaya (Chihuahua, Mexico)

2020

An interdisciplinary and multi-institutional group of science and art conservation specialists has provided new insight into the painting materials used in the polychrome walls and wooden ceilings in four seventeenth century Spanish colonial churches of Nueva Vizcaya (Chihuahua, Mexico). A multi-analytical study of the decorative surfaces was performed in situ using spectroscopic approaches (XRF, FORS), False Colour Infrared Reflectography – IRFC, as well as micro sampling for ATR-FTIR, LM and GC/MS laboratory analyses. A survey of natural resources were also studied by ATR-FTIR and LM to elucidate the natural occurrence of a select number of materials found in the surrounding areas of the …