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Article

Exceptional Illuminated Manuscripts at the Gulbenkian Museum: The Colors of a Bible and Three Gospels Produced in the Armenian Diaspora

by
Hermine Grigoryan
1,2,
Márcia Vieira
1,
Paula Nabais
1,2,
Rita Araújo
1,
Maria J. Melo
1,2,*,
Marta Manso
3,4,
Maria Adelaide Miranda
2 and
Jorge Rodrigues
5
1
LAQV-REQUIMTE and Department of Conservation and Restoration (DCR), NOVA School of Sciences and Technology, 2829-516 Monte da Caparica, Portugal
2
Institute of Medieval Studies (IEM), NOVA University of Lisbon, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1646-003 Lisboa, Portugal
3
LIBPhys-UNL, Department of Physics, NOVA School of Science and Technology of NOVA University of Lisbon, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
4
VICARTE, DCR, NOVA School of Science and Technology, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
5
Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, Founder’s Collection, Av. Berna, 45A, 1067-001 Lisboa, Portugal
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Heritage 2023, 6(3), 3211-3231; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage6030170
Submission received: 3 February 2023 / Revised: 28 February 2023 / Accepted: 4 March 2023 / Published: 18 March 2023
(This article belongs to the Section Materials and Heritage)
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Abstract

The illuminated manuscripts at the Gulbenkian Museum were produced in the 17th century, in scriptoria of the Armenian diaspora. In this work, we selected analytical methods that can be used in situ to study the colors of the illuminations. Scientific analysis based on fiber-optics reflectance spectroscopy in the visible and Raman spectroscopy has shown the use of a medieval palette based on inorganic pigments such as lapis lazuli, minium, vermilion, orpiment, indigo, two different greens (vergaut and malachite), lead white and carbon black. More importantly, in this context, it showed that the very important reds and pinks are possibly based on carminic acid. The painting technique is, however, different, as are the ways of painting the faces, hands, and vestments. The range of colors in the Bible and the three Gospel Books, enhanced by lapis lazuli blue and organic reds and pinks, demonstrates a desire to create exceptional illuminated manuscripts.
Keywords: Armenian manuscripts; Gulbenkian collection; dyes and pigments; spectroscopic analysis; painting techniques Armenian manuscripts; Gulbenkian collection; dyes and pigments; spectroscopic analysis; painting techniques

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MDPI and ACS Style

Grigoryan, H.; Vieira, M.; Nabais, P.; Araújo, R.; Melo, M.J.; Manso, M.; Miranda, M.A.; Rodrigues, J. Exceptional Illuminated Manuscripts at the Gulbenkian Museum: The Colors of a Bible and Three Gospels Produced in the Armenian Diaspora. Heritage 2023, 6, 3211-3231. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage6030170

AMA Style

Grigoryan H, Vieira M, Nabais P, Araújo R, Melo MJ, Manso M, Miranda MA, Rodrigues J. Exceptional Illuminated Manuscripts at the Gulbenkian Museum: The Colors of a Bible and Three Gospels Produced in the Armenian Diaspora. Heritage. 2023; 6(3):3211-3231. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage6030170

Chicago/Turabian Style

Grigoryan, Hermine, Márcia Vieira, Paula Nabais, Rita Araújo, Maria J. Melo, Marta Manso, Maria Adelaide Miranda, and Jorge Rodrigues. 2023. "Exceptional Illuminated Manuscripts at the Gulbenkian Museum: The Colors of a Bible and Three Gospels Produced in the Armenian Diaspora" Heritage 6, no. 3: 3211-3231. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage6030170

APA Style

Grigoryan, H., Vieira, M., Nabais, P., Araújo, R., Melo, M. J., Manso, M., Miranda, M. A., & Rodrigues, J. (2023). Exceptional Illuminated Manuscripts at the Gulbenkian Museum: The Colors of a Bible and Three Gospels Produced in the Armenian Diaspora. Heritage, 6(3), 3211-3231. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage6030170

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