Stained glasses from Monastery of Batalha: Non-destructive characterisation of glasses and glass paintings

Abstract

Abstract The characterisation of stained glass fragments belonging to the lateral north wing, to the Capela-Mor and to the Capela do Fundador of the Monastery of Santa Maria da Vitoria, Batalha, Portugal, was performed by non-destructive analyses. The work aimed at finding the composition of the glasses and decorations, and relating these with the corresponding production periods. The chemical compositions of the glass fragments were obtained by micro X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis (μ-XRF), completed with the distribution maps obtained from selected cross-sections by means of micro-beam Particle Induced X-ray Emission Analysis (μ-PIXE). Colour characterisation was performed by optical absorption spectroscopy in the UV–vis range, while corrosion products were characterised with optical microscopy and μ-Raman. The combination of the different analyses on the different glass samples allowed knowing the composition of the glasses and glass paintings. Using UV–vis spectroscopy, both the oxidation state of an element and its coordination, which are responsible for the colours displayed, could be determined. The presence and distribution of silver and copper in glass surfaces painted with yellow silver stain were also studied.