A multi-analytical investigation of the materials and painting technique of a wall painting from the church of Copacabana de Andamarca (Bolivia)

Author(s)

Tomasini, Eugenia ^{[1, 2, 3]} ; Castellanos Rodriguez, Diana ^{[2, 3]} ; Gomez, Blanca A. ^{[2, 3]} ; de Faria, Dalva L. A. ^[4] ; Rua Landa, Carlos ^[5] ; Siracusano, Gabriela ^{[1, 6]} ; Maier, Marta S. ^{[1, 6, 2, 3]}

Affiliation

^[1] Consejo Nacl Invest Cient & Tecn, Godoy Cruz 2290 C1425FQB, Buenos Aires, DF - Argentina

^[2] Univ Buenos Aires, UMYMFOR CONICET, Pabellon 2, Ciudad Univ, C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, DF - Argentina

^[3] Univ Buenos Aires, Dept Quim Organ, Fac Ciencias Exactas & Nat, Pabellon 2, Ciudad Univ, C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, DF - Argentina

^[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Chem, Av Prof Lineu Prestes 748, BR-05508000 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[5] Minist Culturas & Turismo, Taller Conservac & Restaurac Patrimonio Mueble, La Paz - Bolivia

^[6] Univ Nacl Tres de Febrero, IIAC, Ctr Invest Arte Mat & Cultura, Avda Antartida Argentina 1355 C1104ACA, Buenos Aires, DF - Argentina

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Microchemical Journal; v. 128, p. 172-180, SEP 2016.
• Web of Science Citations: 7

Abstract

The Andean church of Our Lady of Copacabana de Andamarca in Bolivia was built in 1723. Its walls are made of adobe bricks and are decorated with paintings dated from mid 18th century. Before a restoration process involving the governments of Bolivia and the Federal Republic of Germany, seven microsamples were extracted from representative colors of one of the wall paintings inside the church. The aim of our research was to characterize the chromatic palette and investigate the painting technique of this Andean colonial wall painting. To approach these goals, an integrated investigation comprising Raman and FTIR-ATR spectroscopy, optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy with X-ray microanalysis (SEM-EDS), gas chromatography (GC), and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was carried out. The results indicated the use of a mixture of two basic copper sulfates of mineral origin, brochantite and antlerite, as the green pigment, adding relevant information to the palette of green pigments in colonial art. Yellow, orange and red ochre, abundant pigments in the Andean region, were also characterized. Observation by optical microscopy of cross-sections of the embedded microsamples and analysis of organic binders by GC and GC-MS pointed to a secco technique and the use of a mixture of egg and vegetable oil ({''}tempera grassa{''}) as the pigment binder. In conclusion, our results allowed to establish the pigment palette and offered new insights into the painting technique of Andean wall paintings. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/13119-3 - Vibrational spectroscopy in condensed phases
• Grantee: Mauro Carlos Costa Ribeiro
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 11/13760-8 - Impact of microenvironment chemical composition on heritage objects: mechanisms and monitoring
• Grantee: Thiago Sevilhano Puglieri
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate