Conservação e restauro de um painel pertencente a um conjunto azulejar do acervo do Museu Nacional do Azulejo

: problemáticas da sua singularidade

Abstract

This dissertation focuses on the study of the tile panel "Arco com a estigmatização de São Francisco", belonging to the collection of the Museu Nacional do Azulejo (MNAz). The study includes the conservation-restoration of a fraction of the panel, which, in a final stage of this work, was put on permanent display in the Santos Simões room, along with other panels produced in the “Ciclo dos Mestres” (1690-1720). The main motivation for the selection of this case study is the applied painting technique, which sets it apart from other works of the same period, and therefore makes it particularly interesting. This dissertation is mostly important because neither the author nor the provenance of the work are known.
The methodology used in this case study was in line with MNAz's collection management policy and intervention philosophy. However, we also put forward some innovative solutions aiming to improve the understanding of the studied panel, and contributing to its reconstitution.
The research began with an internship at the museum, during which we became familiar with MNAz methods and procedures. After the identification and preliminary assembly of the tile set, we proceeded to the conservation-restoration intervention, followed by the assembly of the panel in acrylic support and its exhibition. During the assessment of the conservation status of the panel, prior to intervention, it was noted that the biggest problem was the lack of some fragments and tiles, which disturbed the understanding of the figurative composition. Three different chromatic reintegration proposals were then elaborated using different techniques to complete the panel. However, the final option fell on the proposal that integrated the MNAz intervention criteria.
The material and technical study allowed to further characterize the panel, and to gather relevant data which help to frame it within the above-mentioned artistic period. The panel was first subjected to a macroscopic observation, followed by X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) and Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) analyses. Finally, we also explored different virtual documentation strategies through two exercises allowing to obtain relevant records for the characterization of the work and estimate its original dimensions, in order to have an idea of its original parietal representation. Such exercises also allowed to explore the possibilities of applying virtual documentation to tiles.

Date of Award	16 Jan 2020
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Eduarda Vieira (Supervisor), Lurdes Esteves (Co-Supervisor) & João Manuel Mimoso (Co-Supervisor)