The 19th century revivalisms in the Portuguese architecture: characterization of the interior plaster coatings of Monserrate Palace in Sintra

Abstract

The Palace of Monserrate is a valuable witness of the eclectic tastes of the 19th century, and one of the most important examples of Romantic architecture in Portugal. Its interior walls and ceilings are entirely covered with valuable stucco decorations. However, it has not been given adequate attention for several decades, suffering extensive damage. The project of conservation and restoration of the plasters began only in 2008. This research aims at studying the composition and main characteristics of the original interior plaster coatings. Five samples were collected and a multi-analytical characterization was performed. In this paper, the mineralogical, microstructural, physical and mechanical characterization of the plaster samples from Monserrate Palace are presented and discussed and a relationship between the results obtained and the techniques of application and workmanship skills is established.