Studies of Ceramic Tiles Attributed to Gabriel Del Barco

Abstract

This study reports the mineralogical and chemical characterization of the ceramic body of tiles created by Gabriel del Barco, an important tile painter in Lisbon from the 17th century. Six tile panels were studied: four are signed and two are attributed to the painter. The results obtained from the signed panels revealed that the samples have almost the same characteristics, with a magnesium‐rich phase, meaning that the artist, or the pottery where the tiles were made, kept to the same manufacturing procedure over some time. In contrast to this, the results of samples from the masterpiece Vista de Lisboa showed some heterogeneity, as two patterns were observed. However, one of these patterns matches with the one observed in the signed tile panels. Although a more detailed study still needs to be done, these findings, together with historical sources linked to painting characteristics, suggest that Gabriel del Barco was also the author of the non‐signed tiles.

Colours of the Tijomel ceramic manufacture (1941-1992): characterisation of a set of ceramic colourants and glazed tiles from Decormel Materials Catalogue

“…Azulejos are a distinctive marker of Portuguese architecture and culture [1][2]. Due to their high artistic and historical value, an increasing interest in azulejos is reflected in the growing number of studies on them, particularly in the field of conservation sciences [3][4][5][6][7]. Despite this growing attention, compared with other glazed ceramic productions, twentieth-century artistic ceramics have been the subject of few technical art history studies [8][9].…”

“…One raw material by Wengers, Lda was identified as a glaze -Aventurin Glaze 1092 G. Eleven samples were produced by Wengers, Ltd. (Table 1), a manufactory of ceramic colours, chemicals, glazes, minerals and raw materials for the ceramic industry, including pottery, tile, brick, glass and vitreous-enamelling on metal industries, located at Etruria (Stoke-on-Trent, England). This company was originally founded in Staffordshire in 1870 and ceased trading in 1984 [5]. Four of the studied ceramic colourants were produced by Blythe Colour Works (Table 1), a company located at Cresswell and specialist in colours, enamels and glazes production for the pottery industry.…”