Probing the birthplace of the “Epirus school” of painting: analytical investigation of the Filanthropinon monastery murals—Part I: pigments

摘要: The Filanthropinon monastery church is regarded the birthplace of “Epirus/NW Greece School” painting as it bears oldest wall paintings this very school. Surviving inscriptions bear no painter name(s), yet they testify that murals were executed in three phases between 1531/2 and 1560. bulk technical typological characteristics latter are typical post-Byzantine religious art, while OM, SEM-EDX, micro-Raman probing reveals existence a number idiomorphic might be viewed part microscopic fingerprint “Epirus school.” A school important because current attributions relevant works to specific painters mostly stylistic ones, pertinent signatures rare. include application “charcoal plus blue smalt” substrate paintings’ background employment possibly local (: Epirus), unusual ochre pigment. Sophisticated segregation pigment grains, glauconite, extensive use San Giovanni white also documented. Analytical data support following scheme regards artistic identities: nave by single painter, assisted pupil who contributed 1542 paintings. 1560 apparently outcome another—yet related painter—workshop; there clues which indicate Georgios Frangos Kontaris both these commissions. Finally, remnants four different overpaintings revealed: pigments successive interventions during an extended period time, reflect will votaries retain vivid.