A Painter in the Shadow: Unveiling Conservation, Materials and Techniques of the Unknown Luso-Flemish Master of Lourinhã

Antunes Antunes,Cardoso Cardoso,Serrão Serrão,Valadas Valadas,Carvalho Carvalho,Mirão Mirão,Candeias Candeias,Manso Manso

doi:10.3390/heritage2040169

Abstract

The painting collection of Santa Casa da Misericórdia da Lourinhã is amongst Portugal’s most notable and scarcely best-known cultural heritage. The artistic interest of this pictorial group, besides the advanced state of degradation of a number of the paintings, together with the ruined circumstances of the building accommodating the collection, today in reconstruction, were the key reasons for this study. Thermo-hygrometric measurements were carried out. A multianalytical methodology incorporating micro-X-ray diffraction (µ-XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (EDXRF), scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM–EDS), micro-Raman spectroscopy (µ-Raman), micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (µ-FTIR) has been followed for the study. These analyses were complemented by infrared photography (IRP) and reflectography (IRR), allowing the study of the underdrawing technique. The results of this study were compared with previous ones of the painter’s workshop and important distinctions and similarities were found within the materials and techniques used. This analysis methodology on materials contributes to safeguarding and the ensuing community awareness of this cultural heritage in danger.

Highlights

The painting collection of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia da Lourinhã (SCM Lourinhã) is one of the most remarkable and little-known elements of cultural heritage of Portugal
These chemical reactions contribute to the physical degradation of the paintings, since the increase of volume of lead carboxylates causes instability in the ground and painting layers, being probably one of the causes contributing to the detachment of these layers from the support
These lacunae are more evident in the lower part of each painting as confirmed by infrared reflectography (IRR) and infrared photography (IRP) results

Summary

Introduction

The painting collection of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia da Lourinhã (SCM Lourinhã) is one of the most remarkable and little-known elements of cultural heritage of Portugal. The artistic interest of this pictorial group, together with the advanced state of degradation of some paintings and the ruined conditions of the building that houses the collection, currently under reconstruction, were the main reasons for this study. Heritage 2019, 2, 2725 part of national heritage, their authors and their workshops, by studying the artistic and material characterization and the state of conservation of this collection. Such a methodology of research on materials and its conservation contributes to the safeguarding and consequent awareness of the endangered cultural heritage of the community. Monastery in Berlengas Island (Peniche, Portugal), is enough to credit the artistic qualities of the collection and to justify the urgency of an integrated project study, conservation and musealization.

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion