HIGHLIGHTING CULTURAL HERITAGE AND RELIGIOUS TOURISM THROUGH ADVANCE TECHNOLOGIES

Authors: Stavroula Nakou, Theodore Ganetsos, Aristidis Papagrigoriou, Stella Mouzakiotou & Konstantinos Brachos

ABSTRACT

The present study focuses on the analysis of pigments and the conservation of two post-Byzantine icons: Saint John with scenes from his life (1674) and the Virgin Mary Enthroned with the Child (1687). The icons are works of the Cretan iconographer Antonios Agorastos and are housed in the Churches of Saint John in Skopelos and Saint George in Tyrnavos, respectively. The analysis of the pigments was carried out using non-destructive Raman and XRF spectroscopy techniques. Using the Thunder Optics – Gem Raman System and the Niton XLp 818 spectrometer, inorganic pigments such as lead white, azurite, verdigris, iron ochres, cinnabar and realgar were identified. The analysis was supported by the Spectragryph software.

The icons showed severe damage, such as loss of surface paint, cracks in the wooden substrates, the effect of wood-eating insects and damage from oxidized varnish. The conservation work included fixing the paint layer with acrylic emulsions, disinfestation using an anoxic method, aesthetic restoration with watercolors and the application of new varnish. Surface deposits and oxidized varnish were removed mechanically and chemically, revealing the original painting. The project highlighted the complexity of the conservation of historical objects and the importance of an interdisciplinary approach. The combined Raman and XRF techniques provided valuable information on the composition of the pigments, while the conservation procedures ensured the stability and aesthetic integrity of the icons. The contribution of scientific and artistic methods highlights the possibility of highlighting cultural heritage through conservation.

The study was carried out with the support of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Larissa and the Holy Metropolis of Larissa and Tyrnavos, following the regulatory provisions of the Ministry of Culture.

Keywords: Agorastos, portable image, pigment analysis, conservation

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