Restoration Of Early 16th Century Panel Paintings
Identification of the Paintings: 5 Monumental panel-paintings on wood
Restoration treatment done in 2002- 2004.
Location: Circular Chapel of the Convent of Christ, Tomar, Portugal.
Attribution: Unknown, probably a group of elite flemish and portuguese master painters.
Size of each panel: Approximately 4 meters height by 2,5 meters width, with boards of 5 cm thick.
The Paintings Restored (between 2002 and 2004 with Frederico Henriques and Sonia Pires)
(clockwise)
The Baptism of Christ,
The Resurrection of Lazarus,
The Christ Entering in Jerusalem,
The Virgin in the Sinagogue ( large fragment),
The Christ Descent into Limbo (small fragment).
(clockwise)
The Baptism of Christ,
The Resurrection of Lazarus,
The Christ Entering in Jerusalem,
The Virgin in the Sinagogue ( large fragment),
The Christ Descent into Limbo (small fragment).
The Charola round chapel in the Convent of Christ, Tomar, Portugal.
for a video about the Convent of Christ, click HERE |
The Circular Chapel (also called "Charola")
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Sketch source: DIAS, Ana Carvalho e FRAZÃO, Irene (coord. científica) - A Charola do Convento de Cristo. História e Restauro. Lisboa: Direção Geral de Património Cultural, 2014. Esquema DGPC/ Sónia Sarroeira/ Ana Margarida Bernardes; Foto: Frederico Henriques, pp. 328-329.
Painting: Resurrection of Lazarus
(please forgive the poor video quality... this was taken when early digital cameras were just coming up to the public market).
Huge termite channel found in the back, were filled before on a previous intervention with fragments of wood and wood dust based putties, but offered minimal integrity to the board with the passing of time. |
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Structural compensations: trapezoidal wood pieces of portuguese chestnut wood are inlaid in grooves previously shaped, where damage in the original oak had occurred due to termite infestation. |
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Structural compensation made with wood pieces is carefully leveled with chisels, in the painting side of the panel, and recessed from the surface for about 2 to 3 mm, to receive new putty that will work as preparatory layer to accept the new paint compensations. |
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Painting: Christ Entering in Jerusalem
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Painting: Baptism of Christ
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Painting: fragment of the Descent to the Limbo
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Painting: fragment of the Virgin in the Sinagogue
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Further Notes:
Data available online
For this study and conservation treatment:
E-Conservation Magazine, 2010, May (English) online:
“The Conservation-Restoration of the “Charola” Paintings of the Convent of Christ in Tomar”, by Frederico Henriques, Ana Bailão and Miguel Garcia.
“The Conservation-Restoration of the “Charola” Paintings of the Convent of Christ in Tomar”, by Frederico Henriques, Ana Bailão and Miguel Garcia.
and:
by I.P.C.R. / I. M. C., Lisbon, 2005 (in Portuguese) download here:
AA.VV, Pintura da Charola de Tomar, (Monumental Panel Paintings of the Charola of the Convent of Christ of Tomar)
AA.VV, Pintura da Charola de Tomar, (Monumental Panel Paintings of the Charola of the Convent of Christ of Tomar)
| pintura_da_charola_de_tomar_ipcr_2005.pdf |
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