Interactive drawing

Art-historical analysis

A fragment of the mural on the northern wall has been preserved. On the left, an altar mensa with a chalice is depicted, while a part of the drapery that belonged to a once-visible figure is on the right.

Judging from the tablecloth pattern and the folds of the garment in the Romanesque-Byzantine zigzag style, the painting was most likely painted in the first half or the middle of the 13th century. Stylistically, it was influenced by contemporaneous Friulian Romanesque painting.[1]

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[1] This is entirely expected since, at that time, the parish still belonged to the Patriarch of Aquileia; see HÖFLER 1997, p. 136.

The first half or the middle of the 13th century.[1]

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[1] HÖFLER 1997, p. 136.

A master influenced by Friulian Romanesque painting.[1]

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[1] HÖFLER 1997, p. 136.

On the left, it is possible to identify an altar mensa covered with a tablecloth and a chalice standing on it. The tablecloth has a similar mesh pattern as the painted decoration of the preserved Romanesque windows. A figure once stood next to the mensa, of which only the lower part of the garment with a striped edging has been preserved.[1]

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[1] HÖFLER 1997, p. 136.

Technical analysis

Pigments: white lime (calcite), yellow earth (goethite), red earth (haematite), green earth, carbon black

Analytical techniques: OM, Raman

The plaster is extremely solid, partly probably also due to the subsequent consolidation during restoration works. It consists of lime and sand. The samples are so small that the cross-sections do not reveal the complete structure of the plaster. We can only discern that it contains a large quantity of lime and not so much sand of various granulations, shapes, and colours (figs. 1–2).

Based on the sample cross-sections, we can identify the use of white lime, yellow (fig. 3) and red earth (fig. 2), green earth, and some black pigment. Raman spectroscopy confirmed calcite, goethite, haematite, green earth, and carbon black. The upper fragment features a blue background, which is clearly the optical effect of a mixture of white lime, carbon black, and haematite. The cross-section of the sample taken from the blue part only shows a grey colour layer (fig. 1), though it is possible that blue azurite, applied al secco on the grey base, might have fallen off. The painter obtained the desired colour hues by mixing two or more pigments. For the particular red base colour of the draperies, he added white lime, a little carbon black, and possibly also a bit of green to the red earth (fig. 2). The primary binder is lime from the plaster. No samples were taken from the window splay. Taking into consideration the similar colours as on the fragment from the north wall we can suggest the use of yellow, red and green earth, as well as an organic black on a white basic colour, carried out with white lime. Again, the primary binder is lime from the plaster.

The mural was painted on fresh plaster, which is already evident from the good preservation and vibrancy of the colours on the wall. This is how the basic colour layers and at least the initial modelling were applied, as seen in the sample cross-sections (figs. 2–3). The final details and finishing touches were probably completed dry.

Unfortunately, the mural in question is only a fragment that has not been well preserved. It is possible to discern thin incisions for the horizontal lines of the bordures. The underdrawing was traced with a semi-dry brush and in black colour, which can be seen in some places under the red draperies as well as under the yellow colour of the chalice (fig. 4). The basic colour layers were applied with broad colour brushes, which is particularly visible on the lower horizontal bordure. The colour modelling of the draperies, based on shading that conveys the depth of the folds and highlights on the tops of the folds, has been preserved. Despite the lack of subtle transitions between hues, it appears that the mural was painted by a good painter who mastered both, painting and the al fresco technique itself. The final contours are thick and reddish-brown, as we can still see on the edge of the drapery just above the chalice in the upper fragment. The vegetal decoration of the window splays was painted with a broad semi-dry brush in single strokes, outlining the leaves of the stylised plants. Thin but clearly visible diagonal incisions form a grid on which the varicoloured plants were placed. However, the grid, clearly serving mainly for orientation, does not always coincide with the black edges of the decorative diamonds. A ruler was used to incise the lines, which sometimes got misaligned and had to be corrected (fig. 5).

Gallery

Virtual 360° view

Tolmin, Succursal church of St Ulrich, Stage 1 (Tolmin), 2024 (last updated 29. 8. 2024). Corpus picturarum muralium medii aevi, https://corpuspicturarum.zrc-sazu.si/en/poslikava/4846/ (22. 7. 2026).

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