A Medieval Perspective
An exploration into the application of
modern digital photographic techniques to
Bulgarian medieval fresco paintings
PROPOSED RESEARCH PROJECT
Introduction
The Christian Revolution that arose during the
medieval empires of Bulgaria and Turkey saw
the creation of monasteries and chapels across
the landscape. The buildings were filled with
religious icons and painted narratives. These
religious images remain on the walls of
orthodox chapels throughout Eastern Europe,
including monastery chapels like that of Sveta
Bogroditsa.
Scott Cheney
Department of
Anthropology
Dr. Elizabeth Hunt
Department of Art
Methodology
Statement of the Problem
Adobe Photoshop software has been
utilized to successfully conserve
renaissance paintings and antique
photographs. This study will
examine if these digital techniques
can be applied to the medieval
frescoes from the western wall of the
village monastery chapel of Sveta
Bogroditsa in Iskrets, Bulgaria.
Research Objectives
• How effective is the color
cloning process of Adobe
Photoshop in the conservation of
medieval frescoes.
• Compare altered images to extant
iconography of the region
• Create a conserved digital
database that can be used by the
Balkan Heritage Field School
when they seek funding for
restoration
This project will be conducted in two phases:
First Phase
• Research previous digital restoration
work done on Renaissance paintings
and early photographs
• Apply researched techniques to the
Balkan Heritage Field School database
Second Phase
• Compare the reconstructed images
to extant iconography of the region to
substantiate the reconstructions.
• Create the iconographic program
from the conserved digital database.
Sveta Bogroditsa, Bulgaria.
Entombment of the Virgin, Ca. 10th Century.
Time, neglect and government transitions
have damaged these holy images to near
obscurity. Digital archives have been made
by the Balkan Heritage Field School for the
sake of preservation and academic study.
Importance of the study
For the local Bulgarian community, these images and this monastery chapel have a strong cultural
connection. This monastery chapel holds fragments of human history that illustrate the faith shared by
individuals throughout Eastern Europe. These frescoes that assist in chronicling the centuries of
Orthodox Christian history are in danger of being lost because of time and neglect. This examination
will create a conserved digital database of the medieval images that could lead to increased funding
from the United Nations Heritage Council when the Balkan Heritage Field School seeks to conserve
and protect this ancient chapel.
Archangel Gabriel, Ca. 10th Century.
Acknowledgements: Dr. Elizabeth Hunt, The Balkan Heritage
Field School, The Holy Orthodox Church of Bulgaria, and the
McNair Scholars Program.