The Wall Paintings in the Russian Church St. Nicholas in Sofia: a Technological Study by Integrated Analytical Approach

Authors

  • Bistra Stamboliyska Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
  • Stefan Belishki Department of Restoration-Conservation Faculty of Applied Arts, National Academy of Art, Bulgaria
  • Nikifor Haralampiev Department of Restoration-Conservation Faculty of Applied Arts, National Academy of Art, Bulgaria
  • Denitsa Yancheva Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
  • Evelina Velcheva Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
  • Petya Penkova National Archaeological Institute with Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
  • Albena Lederer Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden E. V, Germany
  • Dieter Fischer Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden E. V, Germany

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7546/CRABS.2023.03.06

Keywords:

Russian church, pigments, binder IR, Raman, XRF

Abstract

For the first time, wall paintings of 20th century Russian artists in Bulgaria were analysed by means of complementary analytical methods. Representative samples collected from the Russian church St. Nicholas in Sofia, decorated by the famous Russian artists Vasily Perminov, Michail Maletski and Nikolay Shelehov during different periods of time, were examined by means of micro-Raman spectroscopy, attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy and X-Ray fluorescence (XRF). The results of the study reveal that colourful palette was achieved by using various pigment mixtures of traditional and modern synthetic pigment as titanium white, barium white, calcite, chrome green, green earth, hematite, ultramarine, madder lake, carbon black, vermilion, Naples yellow. The analysis of the paint binders allow to conclude that Maletski and Shelehov have used egg tempera as painting technique, while Perminov has worked in two painting techniques - oil and egg tempera.

Author Biographies

Bistra Stamboliyska, Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

Mailing Address:
Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry,
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Akad. G. Bonchev St, Bl. 9
1113 Sofia, Bulgaria

E-mail: Bistra.Stamboliyska@orgchm.bas.bg

Stefan Belishki, Department of Restoration-Conservation Faculty of Applied Arts, National Academy of Art, Bulgaria

Mailing Address:
Department of Restoration-Conservation
Faculty of Applied Arts,
National Academy of Art
73 Tsarigradsko Shosse Blvd
1113 Sofia, Bulgaria

E-mail: st.belishki@nha.bg

Nikifor Haralampiev, Department of Restoration-Conservation Faculty of Applied Arts, National Academy of Art, Bulgaria

Mailing Address:
Department of Restoration-Conservation
Faculty of Applied Arts,
National Academy of Art
73 Tsarigradsko Shosse Blvd
1113 Sofia, Bulgaria

E-mail: n.haralampiev@nha.bg

Denitsa Yancheva, Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

Mailing Address:
Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry,
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Akad. G. Bonchev St, Bl. 9
1113 Sofia, Bulgaria

E-mail: Denitsa.Pantaleeva@orgchm.bas.bg

Evelina Velcheva, Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

Mailing Address:
Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry,
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Akad. G. Bonchev St, Bl. 9
1113 Sofia, Bulgaria

E-mail: Evelina.Velcheva@orgchm.bas.bg

Petya Penkova, National Archaeological Institute with Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

Mailing Address:
National Archaeological Institute with Museum,
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
1 Atanas Burov Square
1000 Sofia, Bulgaria

E-mail: petyapenkova@gmail.com

Albena Lederer, Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden E. V, Germany

Mailing Address:
Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden E. V
D-01069 Dresden, Germany

E-mail: lederer@ipfdd.de

Dieter Fischer, Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden E. V, Germany

Mailing Address:
Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden E. V
D-01069 Dresden, Germany

E-mail: fisch@ipfdd.de

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Published

27-03-2023

How to Cite

[1]
B. Stamboliyska, “The Wall Paintings in the Russian Church St. Nicholas in Sofia: a Technological Study by Integrated Analytical Approach”, C. R. Acad. Bulg. Sci., vol. 76, no. 3, pp. 377–387, Mar. 2023.

Issue

Section

Chemistry