The importance of “fine colours”: notes on painters and their work materials in Alentejo’s mural painting (16th – 19th centuries)

Abstract

In Alentejo there is a set of traditional decorative techniques (esgrafito, stucco, mural painting) that used lime and local pigments as a base, forming a very expressive artistic heritage. Amongst all, mural painting was the one that most marked the image of this region, requiring an interdisciplinary look. In this context, the research, survey and systematization of historical documentation becomes an essential tool. Through it is possible to gather new data about the protagonists involved in the mural campaigns, as well as the materials they used. This information will be an important tool when designing conservation and restoration interventions, tailored to each case. In this article we will present examples of documented mural painting campaigns, where references to materials and painters have been identified, some of them unknown. Thus, we intend to contribute to the characterization of the work context of painters between late 16th century and the beginning of the 19th century.