Deposição de Cristo no túmulo

: estudo e intervenção de conservação e restauro

Abstract

The golden period of the portuguese painting, the 16th century, corresponded mainly to the Flemish influence in Portugal and to its artistic movements. The object of my study, Deposition of Christ in the Tomb, an oil panel painting, make part of this influence. This work belongs to a cycle of the Passion of Christ, along with the paintings of the Flagellation, Ecce Homo and the Descent from the Cross, belonging to the Monastery of Santo André de Ancede.
One of the aims of my dissertation is to continuing and deepening the historical, iconographic, technical and material study of the cycle, using photographic documentation on various wavelengths (visible, UV and IV), digital optical microscopy and complementary analysis, such as the observation of stratigraphic sections and the identification of the Chestnut-tree wood support by optical microscopy (OM), staining tests and elementary analysis by scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM-EDS) and Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy (micro-FTIR). The materials identified are common at such period. It consisted on a ground layer based on calcium sulphate and protein material, underdrawing executed with charcoal and the paint layers composed of white lead, azurite, lead-tin yellow, verdigris, copper resinate, vermilion, vegetal and animal charcoal and an iron oxides pigments. With this study I intend to contribute for the knowledge about the techniques of execution and of the materials used by this unknown master/workshop, comparing with what is known in the context of this period of time.
The luxury and richness of the garments depicted in the painting aroused interest in the study of clothing, jewellery and ornaments used during the period in question. Therefore, as a case study, a general approach to the clothing and accessories used in the 16th century was carried out, with contributions in painting of their period. The existence of a grisaille representing the biblical scene of Jonah with the whale also served as a form of dating the current painting.
In general, the main problems presented by the work were the fragility of the support, due to insect infestation and to a previous deficit intervention. The ground layer have showed some wear and gaps derived from the alteration the original retable into an individual frame. The conservation and restoration treatment were carried out with the aim of stabilizing and consolidating the wood support, as well as preserving the aesthetic integrity of the work, being based on the criteria of compatibility and durability of the structural stabilization treatment.

Date of Award	24 Apr 2017
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Maria Aguiar (Supervisor) & José Carlos Frade (Supervisor)