title: Characterization of glue sizing layers in Portuguese wood paintings from the 15th and 16th centuries by SEM secondary electron images and μ-FTIR.
abstract: According to treatises on 15th and 16th century paintings, artists dedicated particular attention to the sizing layer-consisting mainly of animal glue applied onto the wood support before further application of the ground layer. The stability of a painting mainly depends on the presence of a very cohesive sizing layer. However, the study of these layers has not received special attention from researchers. In this article we present a methodology for characterization of the sizing layer both chemically, by IR spectroscopy (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), and morphologically, by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Secondary electron images obtained by SEM allow precise characterization of such layers. Painting reconstructions were used as references in development of the method to study the sizing layer in real painting samples. Presented herein are examples of this study on 15th and 16th century Portuguese paintings, particularly on the Triptych of S. Simão, from the Aveiro Museum, and S. Pedro, belonging to the Mercy of Tavira.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de História de Arte-Faculdade de Letras da Universidade de Lisboa (IHA/FLUL), Alameda da Universidade, 1600-214, Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Antunes
authors.affiliation: Laboratório José de Figueiredo-Direcção Geral do Património Cultural (LJF/DGPC), R. das Janelas Verdes, 1249-018 Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: J Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Laboratório José de Figueiredo-Direcção Geral do Património Cultural (LJF/DGPC), R. das Janelas Verdes, 1249-018 Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vargas
authors.affiliation: Laboratório José de Figueiredo-Direcção Geral do Património Cultural (LJF/DGPC), R. das Janelas Verdes, 1249-018 Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: António
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Candeias
authors.affiliation: Centro de Física Atómica-Universidade de Lisboa (CFA/FCUL), Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 2, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seruya
authors.affiliation: Laboratório HERCULES-Universidade de Évora (UE), Rua Romão Ramalho 59, 7000-676 Évora, Portugal.
authors.forename: Luís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.affiliation: Instituto de História de Arte-Faculdade de Letras da Universidade de Lisboa (IHA/FLUL), Alameda da Universidade, 1600-214, Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Vítor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Serrão
authors.affiliation: Instituto Politécnico de Tomar (IPT), Quinta do Contador, Estrada da Serra, 2300-313 Tomar, Portugal.
authors.forename: João
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Coroado
mesh_terms: D000269:Adhesives / Q000737:chemistry*; D049668:History, 15th Century; D049669:History, 16th Century; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000379:methods*; D010151:Paintings / Q000266:history*; D011174:Portugal; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000269:Adhesives