Unveiling the mural painting art of Almada Negreiros at the Maritime Stations of Alcântara (Lisbon): diagnosis research of paint layers as a guide for its future conservation

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37558/gec.v20i1.1027
Keywords: Almada Negreiros, mural paintings, diagnostic research, SEM-EDS, μ-XRD, µ-FT-IR, Py-GC/MS

Abstract

This paper reports the diagnostic research of deteriorated paint layers from three mural panels made by Almada Negreiros found in the Alcântara Maritime Station in Lisbon. The aim was to understand the main decay phenomena to aid future conservation works. The methodology comprised in-situ analyses by technical photography in Vis, Vis-RaK and UVF, p-OM and h-EDXRF; micro sampling; OM, SEM-EDS, μ-XRD, μ-Raman, µ-FT-IR and Py-GC/MS. Preliminary results show that all the paint layers analyzed are affected by salts (alkali sulphates) that over time have caused flacking, lack of cohesion, erosion, and lacunae. The light greenish/greenish bluish paint layers in all three panels are the most affected. No organic binders were identified, only the presence of vinyl polymer in glossy paint surfaces.

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Author Biographies

Milene Gil, HERCULES Laboratory (University of Évora), Portugal

Milene Gil is a conservator restorer of Mural paintings and a researcher of Conservation Science at HERCULES Laboratory (Evora University). She has completed her PhD in 2010 in Conservation and restoration of Cultural Heritage, field of expertise Theory, History and Techniques of Artistic Production. She is the PI of the project Unveiling the Mural Art of Almada Negreiros PTDC/ART-HIS/1370/2020.

Mafalda Costa, HERCULES Laboratory (University of Évora), Portugal

Mafalda Costa is a geologist and a researcher in the HERCULES Laboratory (University of Évora). Since 2014, she has been working in the field of archaeometry, using analytical techniques to determine the chemical and mineralogical composition of a wide range of inorganic materials recovered from Cultural Heritage contexts.

Mila Cvetkovic, HERCULES Laboratory (University of Évora), Portugal

Mila Cvetković finished architecture studies at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture in Niš, Serbia. She holds master degrees in architecture (class 2016/17, GAF, University of Niš) and in archaeological materials science (ArchMat, class 2018/20). She is a PhD candidate and a former teaching associate at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture.

Carlo Bottaini, HERCULES Laboratory (University of Évora), Portugal

Carlo Bottaini is an archaeologist. He completed his PhD at the University of Coimbra (Portugal) in 2013. He is currently researcher at the HERCULES Lab, and he is a member of the CityUMacau Chair in Sustainable Heritage (University of Évora). Much of his research is concerned with exploring the dynamics of societal change in later prehistory of Western Europe and Mediterranean through the analysis of material culture and technologies.

Ana Margarida Cardoso, HERCULES Laboratory (University of Évora), Portugal

Ana Margarida Cardoso has a master’s degree in Materials Engineering. She held an internship at the Institute of Museums and Conservation in the Laboratory José de Figueiredo (LJF) under the Internship Program in Public Administration in 2006. Since then has collaborated on several projects funded by FCT in Portugal, at the LJF and HERCULES Laboratory, with special focus on materials characterization through vibrational spectroscopy and microscopic techniques. She works as a higher technician and she is a PhD student in chemistry at the University of Évora.

Ana Manhita, HERCULES Laboratory (University of Évora), Portugal

Ana Manhita is a Chemist and Assistant Researcher at HERCULES Laboratory, University of Évora, Portugal. She completed her PhD in Chemistry in 2012, focused on the material study of historical textiles. She mainly develops her research in the field of analytical chemistry applied to the study of cultural heritage objects, with special emphasis on the application of advanced chromatographic techniques for the study of organic materials.

Cristina Barrocas Dias, HERCULES Laboratory (University of Évora), Portugal

Cristina Barrocas Dias is an Associate Professor and Deputy-Director of the HERCULES Laboratory, University of Évora. Her research expertise is the analysis of organic compounds by hyphenated chromatographic methods (LC-MS and GC-MS). Recently she has expanded her interests into the analysis of stable isotopes applied to cultural heritage.

António Candeias, Director of the Institute for Research and Advanced Training of the University of Evora, Portugal

Antonio Candeias is a Chemist specialized in surface chemistry and heritage science. Professor at the University of Évora since 1992, he was director of the HERCULES Laboratory from its creation in January 2009 until February 2019. He is currently Vice-Rector for Research and Development and, Director of the Institute for Research and Advanced Training of the University of Evora, Director of the national infrastructure ERIHS.pt (Portuguese platform of the European Infrastructure in Heritage Sciences) and Chairperson of the CityUMacau Chair in “Sustainable Heritage”.

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Published
2021-10-25
How to Cite
Gil, M., Costa, M., Cvetkovic, M., Bottaini, C., Cardoso, A. M., Manhita, A., Barrocas Dias, C., & Candeias, A. (2021). Unveiling the mural painting art of Almada Negreiros at the Maritime Stations of Alcântara (Lisbon): diagnosis research of paint layers as a guide for its future conservation. Ge-Conservacion, 20(1), 105-117. https://doi.org/10.37558/gec.v20i1.1027
Issue
Vol. 20 (2021): Ge-conservación Nº20
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