Browsing by Author "Curto, Ana"
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- Exploring a forgotten heritage: the case study of Saint Vincent Martyr's simulacrumPublication . Palmeirão, Joana; Nunes, Margarida; Manhita, Ana; Curto, Ana; Piorro, Luís; Vieira, Eduarda; Ferreira, TeresaThe simulacrum of Saint Vincent Martyr, one of four corpi santi at the Major Seminary of Coimbra, Portugal, features Roman-origin bones mounted in metallic frameworks and covered with intricate Baroque garments. Enshrined within the urn-altar in Saint Michael's Chapel, its remains were exhumed from the Catacomb of Priscila and brought to Portugal in 1760 by Bishop Count D. Miguel da Anunciação. This study employs a multianalytical approach to examine the simulacrum's materiality, construction, and state of conservation. Non-invasive techniques, including digital radiography and borescope inspection, assessed structural integrity and skeletal arrangement. When feasible, micro-samples were collected for laboratory analysis. Optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy with chemical analysis were used to analyse paper, textile fibres, and metal threads, revealing evidence of both craftsmanship and deterioration patterns. Additionally, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy characterised adhesives, coatings, and pigments, while chromatographic techniques identified dyes in garments and wax components on the face. Results corroborated photochemical damage, textile decay, and structural alterations, with in situ radiographic analyses revealing misaligned skeletal remains. Notably, softwood pulp paper with kaolin and an emerald green pigment in the flower crown points to a 19th-century local intervention after the French invasions of 1810. Furthermore, calcium carbonate in wax and lead-based pigments with iron oxides on the simulacrum's face indicate intentional methods to enhance durability and mimic human features. This study integrates material analysis with historical context to deepen understanding of Saint Vincent's simulacrum, tracing its material transformations and informing future conservation strategies for similar artefacts.
- The study of two impressive simulacra at Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Almada, PortugalPublication . Ferreira, Teresa; Nunes, Margarida; Curto, Ana; Palmeirão, Joana; Manhita, Ana; Olival, Fernanda; Piorro, Luís; Monteiro, Paula; Vieira, EduardaSimulacra, or full-body reliquaries of corpi santi, have largely been overlooked in the discourse of the past century by the Church, the general public, and scholars. This work investigates two noteworthy cases among simulacra—two young individuals, St. Primogenita and St. Theodore—from Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Almada in Portugal. Based on a historical and analytical approach, the study examines the simulacra context, assembly methods, materials, symbols of martyrdom, and adornments. Their possible arrival in Portugal in the late eighteenth century is supported by the Bishop’s seal and textile features that reflect the fashion of that period. Radiographic imaging and particularly borescope inspections revealed distinct assembly techniques, with St. Theodore displaying meticulous anatomical assembly, while St. Primogenita’s construction is less precise. However, access to the cranium fragments of St. Primogenita revealed an elaborate consolidation method. SEM–EDS, FT-IR, and Py-GC–MS analyses identified a fibrous material coated with a dark brown paste, likely used to bond the unfused parts of the ectocranium fragments of a young individual, as well as a paste applied to reinforce the endocranium. Martyrdom symbols further distinguished the simulacra, with St. Primogenita adorned with a silk petal crown attached using animal glue, whereas St. Theodore’s crown was crafted from pigment-dyed cellulosic materials. LC-DAD-MS analysis revealed the natural dyes used in coloured threads. Only St. Primogenita retained fragments from a phial of blood, where a creative method may have been employed to emphasise the blood content. This investigation highlighted the complexity and artistry behind these simulacra.