The Recent Discovery, Research, and Restoration of Medieval and Renaissance Frescoes in Riga Castle—A Treasure to the Baltic Region

Abstract

One of the most important castles of the medieval Teutonic Order—Riga Castle in Latvia—is currently undergoing extensive reconstruction work. This study attempts to summarize recent information about the medieval fresco in the chapel and decorative paintings (17th century CE) on the vaults and vault consoles of the refectory that were found during this work. The restorers acquired a combined knowledge of the materials during the pre-restoration research as well as during the restoration process. This, together with the art historian’s viewpoint, and analytical study conducted by chemical technologist of art restoration and material scientists, allowed for an understanding of the materials present, as well as for a determination of the most probable techniques used for the creation of the frescoes. Based on the results presented in this study, the investigated fresco was mostly created using local materials for the plaster and imported ones for pigments, specifically azurite, malachite, and cinnabar. The restoration works, and the possible iconographic meaning of the remaining fragments of the medieval painting, are also discussed.

Keywords

• Livonian Order’s castle
• medieval fresco
• microscopy
• spectral analysis
• restoration/conservation