Esculturas em madeira policromada de duas imagens de vestir de Pelotas/RS e Jaguarão/RS por meio de análises visuais e por espectroscopia no infravermelho

Abstract

The objective of this research is to gather and consolidate a corpus of information about two dressed images, including data on the materials and techniques used in their manufacture, enabling a comparison between them and, simultaneously, facilitating the development of a framework of characterizations that will support future comparative studies with other works from the same historical period. To this end, the material dimension of religious heritage is discussed, providing a description of technical terms that will assist the reader in better understanding the constructive techniques of devotional sculptures. The study primarily defines the structures of the “roca”, dressed sculptures, and polychromy, while also addressing certain iconographic features. Finally, some results regarding the techniques and materials constituting these works of art are presented, based on an analysis of scientific imaging documentation and the interpretation of a preliminary physicochemical analysis using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. This study examines two polychrome devotional sculptures. The first one represents Our Lady of the Rosary and belongs to the Metropolitan Cathedral of São Francisco de Paula in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul (RS). The second is attributed to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, as designated by the Matriz Church of the Divine Holy Spirit in Jaguarão, RS, to which the image belongs. However, this attribution is discussed throughout this study, as the image exhibits several features that differ from this designation, suggesting it may be another depiction of Our Lady of the Rosary. Therefore, the images are referred to in this study as Our Lady of the Rosary of Pelotas and Our Lady of the Rosary of Jaguarão, in order to distinguish them. Both are three-dimensional, dressed, semi-articulated sculptures, classified as “roca” sculptures that are no longer part of religious worship and devotion, instead residing in collections related to the history of their respective religious institutions. In this study, the presence of oil and lead white pigment was identified on the image of Our Lady of the Rosary of Pelotas, along with a red pigment that may be hematite (Fe2O3), while the image of Our Lady of the Rosary of Jaguarão was found to contain calcite, a carbonate commonly used as an inert filler in sculpture manufacture. Additionally, a comparison of the images was made, and although similarities and differences were observed, it was not possible to identify the author or determine the origin of the sculptures. The information consolidated in this work, however, cancontribute with future attribution, since the comparison with other researchers data.