The present master’s dissertation aims to study the Saint Sebastian altarpiece, belonging to Saint Sebastian of Carvalheiras Chapel. It is made of chestnut wood, and painted and gilded in a neoclassical style. It belongs to the period comprised between 1833 and 1836, having been submitted to a new polychrome in 1890 that altered its features, which later was found true through the analysis made. The lack of information on this altarpiece and its degradation condition was one of the main reasons for this project, divided in two parts: material study and conservation intervention. Given the scarcity of documents related to altarpiece works, especially to this particular one, the project includes an analysis on its structural composition an on its decorative elements, the characterization of materials and techniques applied and it´s comparison to similar works. This is with the intent to better understand the extent to which the implementation of such techniques is consistent with the practices developed in works of the same period. To achieve that goal, analytical techniques were used, such as optical microscopy (MO), micro infrared spectroscopy with Fourier transform (micro-FTIR), scanning electron microscopy with dispersive energies X-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDS). A minacious observation of all the different support elements, as well as how they were interconnected, was made, in order to understand the constructive system developed in the case study chapter. The structure is similar to other works of the same epoch, as well as the materials applied in the polychrome. With the intent to preserve this altarpiece, once its degradation condition risked its material integrity, a restauration and preservation intervention was put into practice, allowing it to continue to exert its religious and esthetic roles. That intervention implicated a complete disassembly and reinforcement of the structure. In terms of its polychromatic surface, a mimetic chromatic reintegration was made, having as reference the actual aspect of the work conceived during the refurbishment of 1890. This research allowed the historical contextualization of Saint Sebastian altarpiece, as well as its material and technical characterization, and contributed in this way to a deeper understanding of works of the same period in the city of Braga. The conservation and restauration interventions that were carried out helped in the altarpiece materials preservation, in obtaining a detailed understanding of its constructive system and in the reestablishment of its religious function and esthetic dimension.
Date of Award | 14 Jul 2016 |
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Original language | Portuguese |
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Awarding Institution | - Universidade Católica Portuguesa
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Supervisor | José Carlos Frade (Supervisor) & Carolina Barata (Co-Supervisor) |
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- Altarpiece
- Carving
- Polychrome
- Saint Sebastian
- Neoclassical style
- Mestrado em Conservação e Restauro de Bens Culturais
Estudo, conservação e restauro do retábulo de São Sebastião da Capela São Sebastião das Carvalheiras
Carvalho, J. B. B. (Student). 14 Jul 2016
Student thesis: Master's Thesis