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Micro-Analytical Study of a Rare Papier-Mâché Sculpture

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 September 2014

Marta Manso ,
Ana Bidarra ,
Stéphane Longelin ,
Sofia Pessanha ,
Adriana Ferreira ,
Mauro Guerra ,
João Coroado  and
Luísa Carvalho
Marta Manso*
Affiliation:
Centro de Física Atómica da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto 2, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal Faculdade de Belas-Artes da Universidade de Lisboa, Largo da Academia Nacional de Belas-Artes, 1249-058 Lisboa, Portugal
Ana Bidarra
Affiliation:
Geobiotec/Departamento de Geociências, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal Cinábrio, Conservação e Restauro, R. Almirante Cândido dos Reis, 3800-096 Aveiro, Portugal
Stéphane Longelin
Affiliation:
Centro de Física Atómica da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto 2, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
Sofia Pessanha
Affiliation:
Centro de Física Atómica da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto 2, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
Adriana Ferreira
Affiliation:
Arquivo Municipal de Lisboa, Rua B Bairro da Liberdade, Lote 3-6, Piso 0, 1070-050 Lisboa, Portugal
Mauro Guerra
Affiliation:
Centro de Física Atómica da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto 2, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal Departamento de Física, Faculdade de ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
João Coroado
Affiliation:
Geobiotec/Departamento de Geociências, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal Departamento de Conservação e Restauro, Instituto Politécnico de Tomar, Quinta do Contador, Estrada da Serra, 2300-313 Tomar, Portugal
Luísa Carvalho
Affiliation:
Centro de Física Atómica da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto 2, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal Departamento de Física, Faculdade de ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
*
*Corresponding author. marta.manso@fba.ul.pt
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Abstract

The analysis of a Portuguese “papier-mâché” sculpture depicting Saint Anthony is presented in this case study. Several questions were addressed such as the characteristics of the support, pigments used, and artistic technique in order to establish a possible timeline for its production. Qualitative analyses of the cross-sections and of the paper support were performed by optical microscopy using reflected light. Two polychrome layers from different periods and a rag pulped support were identified on the sculpture. The use of micro X-ray fluorescence and Raman microscopy techniques enabled the differentiation of coloring materials used in both polychromies. Semi-quantitative analyses of the gilded samples were also performed by scanning electron microscopy in combination with energy-dispersive spectroscopy allowing the determination of a common Au–Ag–Cu alloy with differences in the purity of the gold. The identified coloring materials lead us to believe that the sculpture was produced in the 19th century, being overpainted in the first half of the 20th century.

Keywords

papier-mâchésculpturemicro-Ramanmicro-XRFSEM-EDS
Type
SPMicros Special Section
Information
Microscopy and Microanalysis , Volume 21 , Issue 1 , February 2015 , pp. 56 - 62
Copyright
© Microscopy Society of America 2014 

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