Building Granite Characterisation, Construction Phases, Mason’s Marks and Glyptography of Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe Church, Mouçós e Lamares, Galicia-North Portugal Euroregion

Abstract

The Romanesque church of Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe of Mouçós e Lamares is located in Vila Real (North of Portugal). The exterior part of its nave is preserved almost unaltered. Most of the granite ashlars and corbels that make up this church have a mason’s mark in the centre of their faces. The building granites (Sanguinhedo and Vale das Gatas) have been identified and characterised petrographically and petrophysically. The mason’s marks have been as well identified; all the ashlars with visible mason’s marks have been mapped, and a glyptographic study has been carried out. In addition, the surface roughness of ashlars was measured. All these analyses have made it possible to locate the main historical quarry, to calculate the number of stonemasons who worked in the construction of the church, and to determine its construction phases. There are eight main types of mason’s marks on the nave façades. The quarrymen extracted the main building granite (Sanguinhedo granite) from the same quarry, or from nearby quarries. Although the most experienced stonemason has been identified, most stonemasons worked as a team during all construction phases of the church. Techniques such as petrography, ultrasonic P wave velocity, colourimetry, roughness and the determination of hydric properties will guarantee the quality and durability of the heritage stone for restorations. In addition, the glyptographic analysis revealed important historical and ethnographic findings that will be very useful for the appreciation of the monument. Therefore, the knowledge of built heritage, such as mason’s marks contribute to the conservation of historical quarries and traditions, as well as help understand the close cultural association societies have had with heritage stones. In this way, the scientific corpus of historical-cultural heritage can face for the development of tourism in Galicia-North Portugal Euroregion in a long-lasting sustainable way.

Proto-Early Renaissance Depictions, Iconographic Analysis and Computerised Facial Similarity Assessment Connections: The 16th Century Mural Paintings of St. Leocadia Church (Chaves, North of Portugal)

“…Similarities can be found in a series of mural paintings from the same period, in the Vila Real district. Such as, themes, ornamental elements, iconographic influences and programme correlations between the mural paintings in the Santa Leocádia Church and those in the St Marinha Church in Vila Marim, the Our Lady Chapel of Guadalupe in Mouçós, the St. Michael Church of Três Minas and the Our Lady Church of Azinheira in Outeiro Seco [11][12][13][14][15].…”

Study of the Geochemical Decay and Environmental Causes of Granite Stone Surfaces in the Built Heritage of Barbanza Peninsula (Galicia, NW Spain)

“…In general, such effects include a significant loss of valuable building materials, architectural elements and details, considering aesthetic damage (e.g., discoloration) and the definitive loss of material (e.g., detachment, scaling) [11], as it can be observed in sculptural objects of façades, which are sometimes deficient in the conservation conditions of such materials through time [3,12,13]. After decades of studies on monuments around the world [11], it is well known that the decay of stone materials is often a complex phenomenon due to a combination of the natural processes of physical, chemical and biological weathering that can act simultaneously over a long time period, meaning that it is necessary to study Heritage buildings from case to case [14][15][16][17]. Moreover, while the detachment of stone can be very easily observed by the naked eye, other processes such as chemical weathering are difficult to assess.…”

Mural Paintings Characterisation Using X-ray Fluorescence and Raman Spectroscopy—A Case Study: Nossa Senhora das Neves Chapel, Vilar de Perdizes, Galicia—North Portugal Euroregion

“…Mural paintings from other churches in the Vila Real district are also attributed to the Marão workshops of the 15th and 16th centuries. The following churches, among others, have examples of mural paintings: Santa Marinha, Vila Marim, 15th and 16th centuries [17]; Santa Maria, Covas do Barroso, 15th and 16th centuries; Nossa Senhora da Azinheira, Outeiro Seco, 16th century [18]; São João Baptista, Cimo de Vila da Castanheira, 16th century; Santa Leocadia, Chaves, 16th century; São Miguel, Três Minas, 16th century; Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe, Mouçós, 16th century, [19]; São Brás Chapel, Vila Real, 16th century; São Tiago, Folhadela, 15th and 16th centuries, [20]. The appreciation of these mural paintings will mean a revitalisation of this area with a low population density and a need to attract cultural tourism.…”