This paper represents an interdisciplinary research focused on the microscopic and mineralogical investigations of the original fragments of a precious medieval painting, a rare byzantine Dormition of the Virgin in Italy. The painting has discovered in the rural monastery of Santa Maria del Rogato (Sicily), thanks to a recent restoration work. In order to obtain an exhaustive description of both the original mortars and pigments, several investigation methods are employed, from optical, polarization-fluorescence and electron microscopies, elemental analyses and X-ray diffraction as well. The experimental analyses, useful as a guideline in the restoration, allowed to the knowledge of the original materials as well as of the techniques used to realize the artwork. The paintings are realized by a fresco technique, by using lime and a simple color palette, based on natural earth, as typical of the Byzantine pictorial tradition.

Microanalytical investigations on a Byzantine fresco of the Dormitio Virginis from Sicily

Taglieri G.
Validation
;
Arrizza L.;Daniele V.
;
Macera L.;
2019-01-01

Abstract

This paper represents an interdisciplinary research focused on the microscopic and mineralogical investigations of the original fragments of a precious medieval painting, a rare byzantine Dormition of the Virgin in Italy. The painting has discovered in the rural monastery of Santa Maria del Rogato (Sicily), thanks to a recent restoration work. In order to obtain an exhaustive description of both the original mortars and pigments, several investigation methods are employed, from optical, polarization-fluorescence and electron microscopies, elemental analyses and X-ray diffraction as well. The experimental analyses, useful as a guideline in the restoration, allowed to the knowledge of the original materials as well as of the techniques used to realize the artwork. The paintings are realized by a fresco technique, by using lime and a simple color palette, based on natural earth, as typical of the Byzantine pictorial tradition.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11697/141691
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