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Characterization of Glue Sizing Layers in Portuguese Wood Paintings from the 15th and 16th Centuries by SEM Secondary Electron Images and μ-FTIR

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 October 2013

Vanessa Antunes ,
Maria J.Oliveira ,
Helena Vargas ,
António Candeias ,
Ana Seruya ,
Luís Dias ,
Vítor Serrão  and
João Coroado
Vanessa Antunes*
Affiliation:
Instituto de História de Arte–Faculdade de Letras da Universidade de Lisboa (IHA/FLUL), Alameda da Universidade, 1600-214, Lisboa, Portugal
Maria J.Oliveira
Affiliation:
Laboratório José de Figueiredo–Direcção Geral do Património Cultural (LJF/DGPC), R. das Janelas Verdes, 1249-018 Lisboa, Portugal
Helena Vargas
Affiliation:
Laboratório José de Figueiredo–Direcção Geral do Património Cultural (LJF/DGPC), R. das Janelas Verdes, 1249-018 Lisboa, Portugal
António Candeias
Affiliation:
Laboratório José de Figueiredo–Direcção Geral do Património Cultural (LJF/DGPC), R. das Janelas Verdes, 1249-018 Lisboa, Portugal Laboratório HERCULES–Universidade de Évora (UE), Rua Romão Ramalho 59, 7000-676 Évora, Portugal
Ana Seruya
Affiliation:
Centro de Física Atómica–Universidade de Lisboa (CFA/FCUL), Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 2, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
Luís Dias
Affiliation:
Laboratório HERCULES–Universidade de Évora (UE), Rua Romão Ramalho 59, 7000-676 Évora, Portugal
Vítor Serrão
Affiliation:
Instituto de História de Arte–Faculdade de Letras da Universidade de Lisboa (IHA/FLUL), Alameda da Universidade, 1600-214, Lisboa, Portugal
João Coroado
Affiliation:
Instituto Politécnico de Tomar (IPT), Quinta do Contador, Estrada da Serra, 2300-313 Tomar, Portugal
*
*Corresponding author.vanessahantunes@gmail.com
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Abstract

According to treatises on 15th and 16th century paintings, artists dedicated particular attention to the sizing layer—consisting mainly of animal glue applied onto the wood support before further application of the ground layer. The stability of a painting mainly depends on the presence of a very cohesive sizing layer. However, the study of these layers has not received special attention from researchers. In this article we present a methodology for characterization of the sizing layer both chemically, by IR spectroscopy (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), and morphologically, by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Secondary electron images obtained by SEM allow precise characterization of such layers. Painting reconstructions were used as references in development of the method to study the sizing layer in real painting samples. Presented herein are examples of this study on 15th and 16th century Portuguese paintings, particularly on the Triptych of S. Simão, from the Aveiro Museum, and S. Pedro, belonging to the Mercy of Tavira.

Keywords

SEM secondary electron imageFTIRsizing layeranimal gluereconstructions15th and 16th century Portuguese painting
Type
Materials Applications
Information
Microscopy and Microanalysis , Volume 20 , Issue 1 , February 2014 , pp. 66 - 71
Copyright
Copyright © Microscopy Society of America 2014 

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