Architectural paint research in Lower Silesia

Abstract

Research on the historical colours of Silesian architecture has been undertaken in order to identify original colour schemes of exteriors from the Middle Ages to the present day. Archival research was identified as a source of data on original colour schemes, and the following sources were analysed: documents recording examinations of exteriors, written sources, and colourful depictions. As a result, numerous colour schemes were detected. This paper discusses selected issues on architectural paint research that took place in Lower Silesia in the years 1945-2014. In the first part, the paper presents selected findings of historical colour schemes resulting from later repainting, whereas in the second part, it tackles several technical issues about paint research. The study deepens the knowledge of historical colour schemes of Lower Silesia. It may also enable the improvement of historical paint analysis, thereby allowing better preservation of original polychromes and, as a result, monuments restored closer to their original state.