The imitation of brocade fabrice in late mediavel altarpieces from Transilvania

The representation of rich brocade fabrics was one of the main and most striking features of European medieval paintings. What we see today is the impressive result of the artist's skills and the commissioner's preferences. To achieve this effect, medieval artists developed a large variety of materials and techniques. This paper presents the results of an integrated approach to the investigation of the techniques used by the painting workshops in Transylvania for the imitation of brocade fabrics. The investigation is carried out on a group of 12 largely unstudied Late Gothic Early Renaissance altarpieces built between 1450 1540 in German and Hungarian communities, these being some of the oldest panel paintings preserved in Romania. Over the period 2005-2010 these paintings were, for the first time subjected to an extensive technical investigation by complementary analytical methods. The in situ investigation combines visual examination and extensive non invasive point measurements by portable X-ray fluorescence. Due to their present location in various churches in Transylvania, a minimal sampling only was allowed for further elemental analysis carried out in laboratories. The laboratory investigations included light microscopy (in both visible and UV light), histochemical tests on cross-sections, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with EDX spectrochemical microanalysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The study reveals the use of at least five different types of brocade imitation, including the sophisticated technique of applied relief brocades (Pressbrokat). Most of these five types are using a combination of techniques of decorative treatment of the ground layer with paint layers, coloured glazes and application of metal leafs