Wednesday 1 July 2015

Vitsa, Zagori: Painting Technique and Wall-Painting Preservation, St. Nicholas' Church, Vitsa, Zagori



"PAINTING TECHNIQUE AND STATE OF CONSERVATION OF WALL PAINTINGS IN SAINT NICHOLAS CHURCH AT ZAGORI- GREECE "

Abstract here (pdf)

"Results: Τhe examination of cross-section samples by VLM and SEM-EDX, combined with FTIR analysis of powder samples enabled the identification of inorganic pigments of the wall paintings (red ochre, yellow ochre, terre verte, malachite, cinnabar and lime),  the characterisation of the inorganic constituents in plaster. In addition, decay products (nitrates, oxalates and gypsum) have been identified by FTIR and microbial flora was detected by SEM. The detection of proteins in cross-section samples was achieved by staining with fluorescent dyes (FITC) followed by microscopic observation, as well as FTIR (analysis of water soluble fraction of sampled powders). Finally, HPLC analysis showed egg yolk as the major component in binder of paint layers and animal glue in plaster".





St. Nicholas Church, Vitsa, Zagori; built in 1612

The precious wall-paintings (c. 1618-1619, by Mikhail and his son Constantinos, from Lynotopi, Kastoria), and the roof remain in urgent need of conservation, as a result of dampness.

I have only once seen the inside of the church, when Professor Panayiotis Vokotopoulos
gave a fascinating talk about the wall-paintings.

Ο Παναγιώτης Βοκοτόπουλος κατέχει πολλές ιδιότητες: καθηγητής Βυζαντινής Αρχαιολογίας στα Πανεπιστήμια Αθηνών και Θεσσαλονίκης, Ακαδημαϊκός, συγγραφέας, ερευνητής.
Το συγγραφικό του έργο αναφέρεται κυρίως στην βυζαντινή εκκλησιαστική αρχιτεκτονική και στην βυζαντινή και μεταβυζαντινή ζωγραφική (τοιχογραφίες, εικόνες και μικρογραφίες χειρογράφων).




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