Техника и технология на стенописите от ХV век в църквата „Св. ап. Петър и Павел” в метоха Орлица
Technique and technology of the fifteenth-century murals at the Church of Sts Peter and Paul, the Orlitsa metochion

Summary/Abstract: The Orlitsa metochion with the Church of Sts Peter and Paul is 18 km to the west of the Monastery of Rila. The mu- rals in the church are among the just a few extent ensembles of the late fif- teenth century. Their dating is suggest- ed by an inscription over the entrance in the west wall of the naos, which tells that the painting was done in 1491. Of the medieval paintings, only eight scenes have been entirely preserved. Some of the researchers attribute these murals to the group of works by the icon-painters from Kratovo. The publication presents the results of the study of the end-fifteenth-century wall paintings conducted for the time being. All the constituent elements – ground, plaster and painted layer – were analysed for the purposes of the research. A number of physico-chem- ical tests were conducted to establish the structure, the chemical composition and the stratigraphy of the wall paint- ings under consideration. The plas- ter is of lime with a lot of fibre filler (straw), applied in one layer. The medi- eval icon-painter has strictly observed the traditional stages in the work with tempera technique. The painting shows significant thickness and coverage. The underpainting ground of the flesh areas were applied (proplasmos), then came the development of the forms (glykas- mos) through making them lighter or darker and applying the highlights to paste. Following the tests conducted, the palette of pigments used was also established. Those were typical of the medieval icon-painters. Some of them have been applied on the wall in their pure form and others have been mixed to obtain richer shades.

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