The chemists from the Faculty of Science involved in the Arteca project have the task of carrying out a chemical analysis of materials and residues of polychromy used in the construction of the Church of Saint Maurice in the center of Olomouc. The results of the analysis should help the restorers in the ongoing extensive reconstruction of the church for nearly CZK 130 million.
In recent days the chemists have taken samples from window arches and other places on the monument’s facade, showing remnants of polychrome. „Other samples were taken from around the lead sign on the western side of the church. The purpose is to find out if there was any color decoration in these places in the past,“ said Lukáš Kučera from the Department of Analytical Chemistry.
In order to avoid damage to the monument, the samples had to be kept to a minimum. „A few milligrams is enough for basic analysis of stratigraphy i.e. pouring the sample into the resin and preparing the cut. From these I will take roughly one-tenth and I will carry out detailed analyses. However if it were a different kind of special analysis, such as the study of soluble salts, it would be necessary to have samples weighing about half a gram,“ said Lukáš Kučera.
The result will be information about material composition or about various organic substances such as binders, which were added to the mortar or pigment layer during the construction of the church. The results of the analyses are expected to be completed by the end of this summer and will be a valuable information for restorers who repair the church.
The Arteca project, which was launched last year, consists of a team of experts from the fields of analytical chemistry, art history, optics and physics. The aim is to develop new methods and techniques that are important in the field of cultural and artistic heritage research in the Czech Republic. Work on the church repairs will continue until the end of 2021. Information about the project Arteca can be found in this article.