A cross-disciplinary analysis of the materials used in the making of Irish works of art

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dc.check.date2025-05-31
dc.contributor.advisorIacopino, Daniela
dc.contributor.advisorÓ Macháin, Pádraig
dc.contributor.authorBiolcati, Veronica
dc.contributor.funderIrish Research Council
dc.date.accessioned2024-02-06T15:15:00Z
dc.date.available2024-02-06T15:15:00Z
dc.date.issued2023
dc.date.submitted2023
dc.description.abstractNowadays, the fields of cultural heritage preservation and heritage science are experiencing a growing demand for non-invasive analytical methodologies. These approaches aim to minimize direct interaction with artefacts in order to minimize any potential damage. In fact, non-invasive analytical techniques, by virtue of their non-destructive nature, do not induce modifications in the physical or chemical constitution of the art objects, and they often obviate the need for sampling. Since decades, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) is routinely used as preliminary step in most analytical surveys of artworks. This publication-based thesis, under the auspices of the Inks & Skins project, presents three case studies which used XRF for the elemental characterization of the materials under analysis. XRF plaid a key role in all investigations, as it informed about material availability, artistic techniques, and manufacturing technologies among others. Following the introduction on the principle of XRF and a brief overview on inks and metals, chapter two presents the multi-analytical investigation of the Irish Gaelic manuscript on animal skin, the Book of Uí Mhaine. The presented publication was the culmination of an interdisciplinary analysis of the composing material and manufacturing techniques of the largest Gaelic Books surviving from the medieval vernacular period. XRF elucidated the elemental composition of inks, pigments, and parchment support. The extensive data collected in this study served as comparative tool for the undergoing research on the materials and techniques used in other (27 at the time of this thesis) medieval Irish manuscripts from different traditions. Chapter three presents the publication raising from the study of inks used to write nineteen satiric poems in Harward’s Almanac, a 17th century Dublin book. In this specific case XRF aided to establishing the original order in which the verses were written. Again, this work would have not been possible without a transdisciplinary approach which included paleography, codicology, material science, and statistical analysis. The fourth chapter offers a detailed description of an XRF-based analysis of three gold and silver medieval Irish chalices. This technical study was performed in order to put into historical contest a gilded silver chalice recently sold on auction as to be of medieval and Irish origin. This was done by comparing its materiality with two other late medieval silver-gilt chalices. The study helped to reveal their manufacturing technique, the nature of the decorating enamels and glass, and their story they went through. This work could have not been possible without the essential work and research of art historians. Finally, to highlight the enormous potential of XRF technique, all the analysis were performed on-site at partner institutions, libraries, and museums.en
dc.description.statusNot peer revieweden
dc.description.versionAccepted Versionen
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.citationBiolcati, V. 2023. A cross-disciplinary analysis of the materials used in the making of Irish works of art. PhD Thesis, University College Cork.
dc.identifier.endpage154
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10468/15500
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherUniversity College Corken
dc.relation.projectIrish Research Council (Irish Research Council IRCLA/2019/151)
dc.rights© 2023, Veronica Biolcati.
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
dc.subjectHeritage science
dc.subjectHeritage studies
dc.subjectArtworks
dc.subjectMaterial characterization
dc.subjectAnalytical techniques
dc.subjectInterdisciplinary studies
dc.subjectTransdisciplinary studies
dc.subjectMedieval Ireland
dc.subjectMedieval Gaelic manuscripts
dc.subjectMedieval Irish silverware
dc.subjectManuscript studies
dc.subjectBook on paper
dc.subjectBook on animal skin
dc.subjectInks composition
dc.subjectPigments composition
dc.subjectAncient metallurgy
dc.subjectPaper composition
dc.titleA cross-disciplinary analysis of the materials used in the making of Irish works of arten
dc.typeDoctoral thesisen
dc.type.qualificationlevelDoctoralen
dc.type.qualificationnamePhD - Doctor of Philosophyen
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