Color in Middle Ages. Polychromies on stone in sculpture and architecture

Abstract

In the course of last decades, we have become conscious of the historic importance of color layers for the medieval sculpture and architecture on stone. Very often, this fact has been possible by the hand of the works of conservation and restoration verified on our monuments. Nevertheless, there are still important lacks of knowledge in this subject that might generate irreparable losses both in tangible and in intangible values related to these polychromies. Thus, an effective approach to the technical and exegetic aspects involved should be consolidated, in order to face the challenges stated in the conservation of these works of art.