A Brief Insight Into the Secrets of the 120-Year-Old Main Curtain of the National Theatre of Costa Rica Through Non-Destructive Characterization Techniques

Mavis L Montero,Juan G Morice,O A Herrera-Sancho,Geraldine Conejo-Barboza,Carmen Marín,Juliana Benavides-Rodríguez

doi:10.5334/jcms.172

Mavis L Montero, Juan G Morice + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.5334/jcms.172

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Abstract

This article features the preliminary characterization of thirty different-colored samples. The scrutinized fragments were taken from the 120-year-old main curtain from the National Theater of Costa Rica. Results from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) shed light on the textiles used, evidencing the presence of cotton in the reinforcement fabric and linen in the curtain itself. The infrared spectroscopy technique (FTIR) conveys information on the binders used, egg yolk in this case. The elemental composition of the studied pieces was identified using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy technique. Among the most common elements obtained are Zn, Ti, Ca and Ba. Samples which were green or red contained Cu or Cd and Se, respectively. Brown samples present marked signals of Fe. These findings point toward the use of materials such as verdigris, malachite, Scheele green, Cadmium red and Iron oxides as possible pigments within the palette of the curtain. The results obtained through these techniques are supported by a principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis, confirming the presence of three color groups and the existence of mixtures of pigments within the samples. This article delves into the world of stage curtains, from a technical, scientific and historical point of view.

Highlights

Since the beginning of the nineteenth century, the a nalysis of pigments on cultural heritage objects has been of great interest
The remaining part of the paper proceeds as follows: the first subsection will examine the scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dispersive spectroscopy (EDX) and transmitted light microscopy, secondly, we explore about the pictorial technique of the curtain by means of Fourier Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy is used along with statistical correlations in order to infer connections between the variables and the samples
Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) As mentioned before, the purpose of the scanning e lectron microscopy applied is to establish the support materials employed by the artist

Summary

Introduction

Since the beginning of the nineteenth century, the a nalysis of pigments on cultural heritage objects has been of great interest. ‖ Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica, San José, CR ¶ Escuela de Física, Universidad de Costa Rica, 2060 San Pedro, useful techniques for the study of pigments found in s everal objects, for instance, paintings, archaeological materials and paper (Roldán et al 2016; Rosi et al 2009; Schreiner et al 2007; Trojek et al 2017). It was common for these curtains to be hand-painted by artists, turning them into art objects (Corrado 1928; Little 1936). These were not produced to last as each curtain was done for a specific play in a theater. To the best of our knowledge, the National Theater of Costa Rica has an extraordinary and unique collection of curtains that were used for several spectacles since 1897

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