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A presente tese pretende dar a conhecer um património único e ainda desconhecido em Portugal – os simulacra – uma tipologia de relicários de corpo inteiro e tamanho natural, produzida entre os finais do século XVII e meados do século XIX, para expor e enaltecer os restos mortais dos primeiros mártires do cristianismo. Exumados dos cemitérios subterrâneos de Roma a partir de 1578, milhares de corpos (corpi santi) que se acredita terem morrido como mártires cristãos, foram obtidos pelos membros das elites católicas e leigos para fortalecer a prática religiosa em igrejas, conventos e oratórios por todo o mundo cristão, designadamente Portugal. Intrinsecamente relacionado com a antiga devoção às relíquias sagradas e à fé no seu poder espiritual, e favorecido pela retórica tridentina, esta prática duraria trezentos anos. Produzidos com materiais variados e técnicas de manufatura complexas, os simulacra eram vestidos com trajes cerimoniais barrocos e expostos com os atributos de santidade e martírio dentro de urnas-relicário ou altares. Porém, quer as controvérsias sobre a autenticidade dos corpos e seus atributos, quer a atitude anticlerical que marcou o século XIX, puseram fim às exumações. Uma vez que a investigação sobre os simulacra é ainda escassa tanto nacional, como internacionalmente, pretende-se apresentar nesta tese um estudo histórico-artístico e técnico, um inventário nacional, e uma proposta de conservação e salvaguarda dos exemplares em território português. São Clemente (Braga), santa Clara (Porto), são Vicente (Penafiel), santa Justina (Lisboa) são apenas alguns de entre as dezenas de peças inventariadas que testemunham o culto pelas relíquias dos santos mártires em Portugal. Do ponto de vista da análise dos materiais e das técnicas de manufatura adotados pelos artesãos incumbidos da sua montagem, serão apresentados os resultados analíticos de sete exemplares através de técnicas de imagem (radiografia, OM e SEM), espectroscópicas (EDS & ATR-FT-IR) e cromatográficas (LC-DAD-MS e Py-GC-MS). Apesar da provável origem romana das peças, os resultados obtidos sustentam possíveis produções ou remontagens nacionais. Finalmente, os simulacros enfrentam hoje processos de deterioração dramáticos e risco de desaparecimento por dissociação. À semelhança de outros países da Europa e Américas, muitos dos exemplares em Portugal foram tapados, removidos dos altares ou destruídos; mesmo os que permanecem expostos nos espaços sagrados, embora sem culto, foram, com o tempo, esquecidos. Assim, são definidas algumas propostas estratégicas de consciencialização, divulgação e (re)valorização destas peças, através da mobilização comunitária e da transferência de conhecimento intergeracional. Como aqui se defende, os simulacra constituem um património de grande valor histórico, cultural e religioso que urge preservar com uma abordagem multidisciplinar, para benefício das gerações presentes e vindouras.
This thesis intends to make known a unique and still unknown heritage in Portugal – the simulacra – a type of full-body, life-size reliquaries, produced between the end of the 17th century and the mid-19th century, to expose and glorify the mortal remains of the first martyrs of Christianity. Exhumed from Rome's underground cemeteries from 1578 onwards, thousands of bodies (corpi santi) believed to have died as Christian martyrs, were used by members of the Catholic and lay elites to strengthen religious practice in churches, convents, and oratories throughout the Christian world, namely Portugal. Fundamentally related to the ancient devotion to holy relics and faith in their spiritual power, and favored by Tridentine rhetoric, this practice would last for three hundred years. Produced with varied materials and complex manufacturing techniques, the simulacra were dressed in baroque ceremonial costumes and displayed with the attributes of sanctity and martyrdom inside reliquary urns or altars. However, the controversies over the authenticity of the bodies and their attributes, and the anticlerical attitude that marked the 19th century, put an end to the exhumations. Since research on simulacra is still scarce both nationally and internationally, this thesis intends to present a historical-artistic and scientific study, a national inventory, and a proposal for the conservation and safeguarding of specimens in Portuguese territory. Saint Clement (Braga), saint Clare (Porto), saint Vicent (Penafiel), and saint Justine (Lisbon) are just some of the dozens of inventoried pieces that testify the holy martyrs’ relics cult in Portugal. Regarding the analysis made of the materials and manufacturing techniques adopted by the artisans in charge of their montage, the thesis aims to bring forward the analytical results of seven specimens through imaging (radiography, OM and SEM), spectroscopic (EDS & ATR-FT-IR), and chromatographic (LC-DAD-MS and Py-GC-MS) techniques. Despite the probable Roman origin of the pieces, the results obtained support possible national productions or reassembly. Finally, simulacra face today dramatic deterioration processes and the risk of disappearing through dissociation. As in other countries in Europe and the Americas, in Portugal many of the pieces were covered up, removed from altars, or destroyed; even those that remain exposed in sacred spaces, although without worship, were, over time, forgotten. Thus, some strategic proposals for awareness, dissemination, and (re)valuation of these pieces will be proposed, through involving communitarian mobilization and intergenerational knowledge transfer. As defended in the present thesis, the simulacra constitute a heritage of great historical, cultural, and religious value that must be preserved with a multidisciplinary approach, for the benefit of present and future generations.
This thesis intends to make known a unique and still unknown heritage in Portugal – the simulacra – a type of full-body, life-size reliquaries, produced between the end of the 17th century and the mid-19th century, to expose and glorify the mortal remains of the first martyrs of Christianity. Exhumed from Rome's underground cemeteries from 1578 onwards, thousands of bodies (corpi santi) believed to have died as Christian martyrs, were used by members of the Catholic and lay elites to strengthen religious practice in churches, convents, and oratories throughout the Christian world, namely Portugal. Fundamentally related to the ancient devotion to holy relics and faith in their spiritual power, and favored by Tridentine rhetoric, this practice would last for three hundred years. Produced with varied materials and complex manufacturing techniques, the simulacra were dressed in baroque ceremonial costumes and displayed with the attributes of sanctity and martyrdom inside reliquary urns or altars. However, the controversies over the authenticity of the bodies and their attributes, and the anticlerical attitude that marked the 19th century, put an end to the exhumations. Since research on simulacra is still scarce both nationally and internationally, this thesis intends to present a historical-artistic and scientific study, a national inventory, and a proposal for the conservation and safeguarding of specimens in Portuguese territory. Saint Clement (Braga), saint Clare (Porto), saint Vicent (Penafiel), and saint Justine (Lisbon) are just some of the dozens of inventoried pieces that testify the holy martyrs’ relics cult in Portugal. Regarding the analysis made of the materials and manufacturing techniques adopted by the artisans in charge of their montage, the thesis aims to bring forward the analytical results of seven specimens through imaging (radiography, OM and SEM), spectroscopic (EDS & ATR-FT-IR), and chromatographic (LC-DAD-MS and Py-GC-MS) techniques. Despite the probable Roman origin of the pieces, the results obtained support possible national productions or reassembly. Finally, simulacra face today dramatic deterioration processes and the risk of disappearing through dissociation. As in other countries in Europe and the Americas, in Portugal many of the pieces were covered up, removed from altars, or destroyed; even those that remain exposed in sacred spaces, although without worship, were, over time, forgotten. Thus, some strategic proposals for awareness, dissemination, and (re)valuation of these pieces will be proposed, through involving communitarian mobilization and intergenerational knowledge transfer. As defended in the present thesis, the simulacra constitute a heritage of great historical, cultural, and religious value that must be preserved with a multidisciplinary approach, for the benefit of present and future generations.
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Keywords
Catacumbas de Roma Corpi santi (corpos santos) Simulacra (simulacros) Inventário nacional Caracterização material e técnica Conservação preventiva Salvaguarda Catacombs of Rome Corpi santi (holy bodies) Simulacra (simulacra) National inventory Material and technical characterization Preventive conservation Safeguard