Multidisciplinary Investigations of a Double Sided Wooden Icon from Nicula Monastery, Romania

Constantin Marutoiu,Claudiu Tanaselia,Andreea Simionescu,Sergiu Petru Timbus(Monk Siluan),Mircea Gelu Buta,Ioan Bratu,Olivia Florena Nemes

doi:10.37358/rc.19.8.7420

Abstract

A two-sided wooden icon from a monastery in Transylvania was submitted for multidisciplinary investigations involving X-Ray Fluorescence, Radiographic Photographyand Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. The most important part of the icon is St. Nicholas wooden icon, painted over forty years ago. The spectroscopic methods used revealed the painting materials composition, the status of the wooden stage, and the presence of resins as varnish (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy). On one side, the St Nicholasicon was painted over an old icon, St. Arch. Michael, which was evidenced by X-Ray Photography. The obtained data can serve for the preservation and the restoration of these wooden icons.

Highlights

A two-sided wooden icon from a monastery in Transylvania was submitted for multidisciplinary investigations involving X-Ray Fluorescence, Radiographic Photographyand Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy
FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11] and X-ray fluorescence measurements (XRF) (X-Ray Fluorescence) spectroscopy [12] are employed to investigate various samples taken from significant areas of the artwork
The destructive techniques were replaced by nondestructive ones (XRF, FTIR [13], portable Raman [14])

Summary

Results and discussions

XRF data for the icon is presented in table 1. Fig. 1a) St Nicholas wooden icon: XRF sampling points. B) Jesus Christ Imperial (Kingly, Royal) wooden icon: XRF sampling points. A high concentration of mercury was observed in the A1, A2, A3, A6, A18, A19, A22, A23 points, which suggests the presence of a red mercury-based pigment, most probably vermilion. The presence of iron in A7 point suggests the use of an iron based red pigment (red ochre). A13 and A14 points seem to represent a mixture of red, yellow and mercury red. A24 seems to be a mixture of orpiment and lead-red. Some areas (A8, A11, A16 and A 24), which appear to be dark, are due to the modification of white lead in the presence of sulfur compounds (e.g orpiment) [30]

FTIR analysis Canvas investigations

FTIR investigation of the painting materials

Conclusions