Investigarea unei icoane realizată de familia de iconari de la Feisa

Abstract

The Deisis icon is part of the heritage of the Ethnographic Museum of Transylvania. It is painted in the tempera technique on a wooden panel and dates from the 18th century, being attributed to a painter from the center of Feisa. The constituent materials were investigated by non-destructive analysis: X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and microscopy. Over the primer made of gypsum and animal glue the author painted using pigments such as lead red, mercury red, lead white, orpiment, brass powder for aura, iron/manganese black and copper green. The materials used are generally cheap and easily accessible. Brass powder was used instead of gold leaf and cinnabar was only used in very small quantities for painting the faces. The use of brass powder is unusual, instead of gold or silver leaf painters used orpiment as a cheaper alternative (here used on extended areas but not on the aura).