Estudo e conservação de uma urna-relicário da Sé Catedral do Porto

: a urna do Mártir Santo Aurélio

Abstract

The present masters dissertation has as objective to the study of St. Aurélio´s urn reliquary-urn, in the Oporto´s Cathedral. Through this study we acknowledge the importance of the reliquary-urn, either by its function (to store and display the tangible remains of the saint, that is, the relic, so that believers could observe and revere), or by the artwork involved. This work is a great result of the artist´s knowledge back then, that executed and decorated it so well. In order to preserve the dignity and allow it to continue to perform its function, conservation and restoration intervention was necessary since there was danger to its material integrity (seriously affected by the infestation of wood-destroying insects (Anobium punctatum and Xestobium rufovillosum) and a lack of cohesion of the chromatic layer). To this end, we resorted to the examination and analysis techniques, such as radiography, fluorescence photography visible with ultraviolet (UV) radiation, optical microscopy (OM), Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (EDXRF) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (micro-FTIR) and micro-chemical testing. All polychrome techniques, fillers and pigments identified were common at the time of the execution of this work. In this way it was possible to apply a serious and appropriate intervention, thus respecting the integrity and uniqueness of the work, and taking into account the prevailing ethical principles inserted into de Code of Ethics of the Conservative Restorer. The data obtained indicated that the urn is a construction made up of several types of wood: maple and sweet chestnut used for structural areas, boxwood and poplar for carved areas and willow for functional areas and the most used type of assembly material was «união viva». It is a representative work of the rococo style, coated by applying gilding layer and yellow and red monochrome. The original painting and gilding was executed in 1768 by Domingos Teixeira Barreto, painter and gilder of the city of Oporto. The reliquary-urn of Saint Aurélio of the Oporto Sé/Cathedral is an important work of art in the local and national panorama, for their religious representation. The intervention of conservation and restoration that was carried out on the urn reliquary-urn intended to contribute to any material witness authenticity and historicity of the work, in order that it survives as long as possible.

Date of Award	2015
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Carolina Barata (Supervisor), Eduarda Vieira (Co-Supervisor) & Patrícia Moreira (Co-Supervisor)