Exceptional Illuminated Manuscripts at the Gulbenkian Museum: The Colors of a Bible and Three Gospels Produced in the Armenian Diaspora

Heritage

article

Hermine Grigoryan¹  Márcia Vieira¹  Paula Nabais¹  Rita Araújo¹  Maria J. Melo¹  Marta Manso³  Maria Adelaide Miranda²  Jorge Rodrigues⁵ 

[1] LAQV-REQUIMTE and Department of Conservation and Restoration ,(DCR), NOVA School of Sciences and Technology;Institute of Medieval Studies ,(IEM), NOVA University of Lisbon;LIBPhys-UNL, Department of Physics, NOVA School of Science and Technology of NOVA University of Lisbon;VICARTE, DCR, NOVA School of Science and Technology;Calouste Gulbenkian Museum

关键词: Armenian manuscripts;    Gulbenkian collection;    dyes and pigments;    spectroscopic analysis;    painting techniques;   

DOI  :  10.3390/heritage6030170

学科分类：医学（综合）

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

The illuminated manuscripts at the Gulbenkian Museum were produced in the 17th century, in scriptoria of the Armenian diaspora. In this work, we selected analytical methods that can be used in situ to study the colors of the illuminations. Scientific analysis based on fiber-optics reflectance spectroscopy in the visible and Raman spectroscopy has shown the use of a medieval palette based on inorganic pigments such as lapis lazuli, minium, vermilion, orpiment, indigo, two different greens (vergaut and malachite), lead white and carbon black. More importantly, in this context, it showed that the very important reds and pinks are possibly based on carminic acid. The painting technique is, however, different, as are the ways of painting the faces, hands, and vestments. The range of colors in the Bible and the three Gospel Books, enhanced by lapis lazuli blue and organic reds and pinks, demonstrates a desire to create exceptional illuminated manuscripts.

【 授权许可】

CC BY