Ana Barrosa, Rita Araúja and Conceição Casanova, Faculty of Science and Technology, New University of Lisbon (FCT-UNL LAQV)

The study and conservation of two 17th-century parochial manuscripts from the municipality of Almada

Portuguese parochial manuscripts have been subject to very few studies, despite their importance as references for their period of production. The commitment book of the Virgem de Nossa Senhora da Piedade from the Brotherhood of Nossa Senhora da Piedade, dating from 1606, and the Indulgences and Spiritual Graces book, from the Brotherhood of Santíssimo Sacramento, dating from 1616, were both owned by influential lay brotherhoods in Almada.

These books are considered important testimonies to the study of these communities and their practices, as well as their wealth and evolution in the course of time. The commitment books gathers the statutes or rules that determine the running of the brotherhoods and the moral conduct of the brothers, being valid only when approved by civil or ecclesiastic authorities [1]. When approved these brotherhoods were normally given benefits, indulgences or graces, depending on the status of the brotherhood, their connection to archi-brotherhoods or papal bulls [2]. By performing a historical, artistic and material study, we aimed to learn more about the background to these manuscripts in order to understand their significance during their lifetime and re-establish their fame without disregarding their historical authenticity.

The historical and artistic backgrounds were taken into consideration as vital elements to understand these manuscripts, but above all their material construction. Both manuscripts have different supports: the Commitment book has paper, while the Indulgences and Spiritual Graces book has parchment. Considering the difference between the two manuscripts, we evaluated the state of conservation of the Indulgences book, based on the IDAP system (Improved damage Assessment of Parchment) [3, 4] and we created a similar diagnostic system to assess the Commitment book, taking into account its main characteristics and alterations. By applying the same diagnostic approach to the Commitment book it was possible to define identical parameters of damage state on a similar basis system and therefore, establish an intervention methodology adequate to each manuscript.

The study and diagnose of these two manuscripts also relied on a molecular characterization through multi-analytical techniques, such as μ-EDXRF (Micro-Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence spectroscopy), μ-Raman (Micro-Raman spectroscopy), μ-FTIR (micro-Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy), FORS (Fiber Optics Reflectance spectroscopy), μ-spectrofluorimetry and SERS (Surface-Enhanced Raman spectroscopy). In the Commitment book we analysed the two illuminated folios. For red and pink colours, vermillion and cochineal were used; for blues and greens, azurite and a copper based green (possibly verdigris) were used and in the white elements we found lead white. We also identified a lichen dye in the purple colours as well as in mixture with azurite to produce dark blue; goethite was detected in yellow colours. Gold powder was applied directly over the support, in the golden backgrounds and inscriptions in one of the illuminated folios, as well as in the frameworks from both manuscripts. The inks used in the writing text of both manuscripts were identified as an iron gall ink, in the entire Indulgences and Spiritual Graces manuscript text and iron gall and vermillion in the Commitment manuscript text. The bindings of both manuscripts were paste boards, covered with full leather with gold tooling decorations. In the Commitment book of the Virgem de Nossa Senhora da Piedade, two previous interventions were identified. Micro-FTIR was fundamental for the identification of the adhesives used in these interventions. The previous restoration treatments were probably made in order to preserve the manuscript structure and consolidate its folios, however the natural aging of the adhesives promoted the manuscript degradation demanding as a result the removal of these reinforcements.

The multi-analytical techniques were essential to understand both manuscripts and to elucidate about the differences between the two illuminated folios in the Commitment manuscript. Despite the use of the same type of pigments and colours, the illuminated folios appeared visually different. It was possible to explain the dissemblance, by microscopic observation, which revealed a layer of paper fibres on top of the painting (possibly from a previous intervention), giving its colours a different appearance and adulterating its visual assessment. The diagnoses-systems schematised the extension of the damages and their location in both manuscripts, helping towards the main goal of this work, the conservation intervention in both manuscripts.

This interdisciplinary study helped in the establishment of an intervention strategy for each book. In the case of the Commitment book a full intervention in the text block is mandatory and consequently in the binding structure, while in the Indulgences and Spiritual Graces book minimal intervention, only in the binding, is advisable. The main steps of the intervention will be presented, such as the removal of the elements added by the previous interventions in the Commitment book and further stabilisation and reinforcement; and the consolidation of the binding structures, always respecting the principles of minimal intervention and the physical and historical integrity of these two manuscripts.

[1] Almeida, Márcia. 2011. Das Artes da pena e do Pincel; Caligrafia e pintura em Manuscritos no séc. XVIII. Volume I. Dissertação de doutoramento. Faculdade de Filosofia e Ciências Humanas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte.

[2] Monteiro, António Xavier de Sousa. 1870. Código das confrarias- Resumo do direito Eclesiástico, Civil, Administrativo e Criminal relativo a estas associações. Imprensa da Universidade de Coimbra.

[3] The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, S. o. 2007. Improved Damage Assessment of Parchment IDAP, Assessment, data collection and sharing of knowledge. R. Larsen, Ed. Belgium.

[4] Correia, Inês. 2014. Estudo Arqueológico dos Códices Iluminados do Fundo Laurbanense: As Intervenções de Conservação num Corpus Medieval. Dissertação de doutoramento. Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas da Universidade Nova de Lisboa.