Pigmet Identification of a Mural Painting in the Former Convent of Santo Domingo Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, Mexico

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30763/intervencion.253.v2n24.32.2021

Keywords:

mural painting, pigments, X Ray, X-Ray Fluorescence, conservation, 16th century convent

Abstract

The following article discusses the application of non-invasive and non-destructive analytical techniques to study the materials used in a mural painting from the former convent of Santo Domingo Tehuantepec, in Oaxaca, Mexico. The study is part of the restoration project for this heritage site and its ornamental finishes impacted by the earthquake of September 7th, 2017. The study characterizes the pictorial palette of the mural using XRF and digital microscopy and colorimetry to record the colors of the mural painting. The results indicated that very costly pigments with a high level of quality and durability (cinnabar or vermilion, orpiment, and bone black) had been used, which speaks to the historic and material importance of the decorations in the building.

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Author Biographies

Armando Arciniega-Corona, Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH), Coordinación Nacional de Conservación del Patrimonio Cultural (CNCPC), Mexico

Chemist and Master in Chemical Sciences who graduated from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). He is in charge of the Laboratorio de Conservación, Diagnóstico y Caracterización Espectroscópica de Materiales (CODICE) of CNCPC-INAH. Since 2013, he has participated in projects to preserve cultural, archeological, and historical heritage as well as modern works under inah care. He is a specialist in characterizing cultural materials and materials for conservation using non-invasive and
non-destructive analytical techniques, and also specializes in developing methodologies to apply, monitor, and evaluate conservation treatments. In 2015, he joined Laboratorio CODICE and currently works with multidisciplinary teams that focus on conservation-applied research.

Daniel Meléndez García, Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH), Coordinación Nacional de Conservación del Patrimonio Cultural (CNCPC), Mexico

Master’s degree in Sciences and Materials Engineering from Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana in Azcapotzalco (UAM-A, Mexico), where he had graduated as a Chemical Engineer. Since 2016 he has specialized in the study of cultural heritage with different analytical techniques. He was involved in research at the Universidad de Cádiz (UCA, Spain) with the “TEP 115 Procesado de nuevos materiales vía sol-gel” group. In 2019 he joined the team at Laboratorio CODICE CNCPC-INAH, where the main focus of his research has to do with the synthesis, characterization, and evaluation of materials via sol-gel. He also supports studies of heritage sites using in situ spectroscopy and materials aging techniques. Additionally he is a technical-scientific consultant for conservation-restoration projects.

Fernanda Martínez Camacho, Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH), Centro INAH Oaxaca, Mexico

Restorer and conserver in Restoration of Movable Property from the Escuela Nacional de Conservación, Restauración y Museografía (ENCRyM, Mexico). She studied for a master’s degree in Architecture in the field of Restoration at the Universidad Autónoma Benito Juárez de Oaxaca (UABJO, Mexico). Since 2005, she has been working at the Centro INAH Oaxaca managing and coordinating projects as well as restoring cultural heritage. Her professional work has focused on mural paintings, architectural finishes, and altarpieces. She has attended various courses and diploma courses dealing with microhistory, sciences applied to the restoration and appraisal of works. She has been twice recognized with honor mentions by the Premio INAH Paul Coremans for the best paper on Restoring Movable Properties (2012), and to the best BA thesis (2010).

Perla Téllez Cruz, Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH), Coordinación Nacional de Conservación del Patrimonio Cultura (CNCPC), Mexico.

Chemical Engineering graduate of the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, at Iztapalapa (UAM-I, Mexico). Since 2013 she has worked at CNCPC-INAH, in the Department of Research for Conservation, where she has specialized in the analysis of materials and cultural heritage using destructive and non destructive analytical techniques. She has contributed to several projects both within and outside the CNCPC, and has participated in national and international congresses. Since 2019 she has been a part of the Laboratorio CODICE team.

References

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Additional Files

Published

2021-12-28

How to Cite

Arciniega-Corona, A., Meléndez García, D. ., Martínez Camacho, F., & Téllez Cruz, P. (2021). Pigmet Identification of a Mural Painting in the Former Convent of Santo Domingo Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, Mexico. Intervención, 2(24), 137–173. https://doi.org/10.30763/intervencion.253.v2n24.32.2021

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 24 (2021): July-December

Section

Research article

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