288 Apuntes del Alcázar de Sevilla
E
nglish
version
T
he opening of the Patio del Crucero to the Renaissance
gardens and the plentiful decoration of its wall coverings
and vaults form an extensive rehabilitation and aesthetic
renewal policy implemented by Philip II in the gothic pal-
ace, in the last third of the sixteenth century. The recent discovery
of the gorgeous mannerist motifs of the eight-supplement pointed
vault —the penultimate one of the central nave, preceding of the
Grotesque fountain — arcade up to then hidden by whitewashing,
lead us consider this motifs may could be extensive to the rest of
ribbed vaults, covered by cream of lime nowadays. The statigraphic
cleaning tests program implemented in the supplements and vault
ribs will give us that precious response. In the best of cases, it may
reveal the singular image of roofing enhanced by paintings, designed
to be reflected on the pond. Similar circumstances, curiously, may
also occur in the vaults of the gothic palace, whitened now, but poly-
chrome by one of those painters who continued their work in the
subterranean side of the Patio subsequently.
PRECEDENTS
Since 17 years ago, the promotion and finance of the recovery, main-
tenance and restoration of the murals is one of the projects by
Pa-
tronato del Real Alc
á
zar y Casa Consistorial de Sevilla
, especially those
based on the subterranean area in the
Patio del Crucero
, popularly
known as
Ba
ñ
os de D
ñ
a. Mar
í
a de Padilla
due to their poor state at
the time of the examination in the late 90s of the last century. From
then on, several conservative refurbishments have been promoted
from the recognition of the historical, archaeological, artistic and
cultural relevance of the heritage preserved in this area of the
Al-
c
á
zar
, showing interest especially in the recovery of this important
legacy of Renaissance mannerist mural paintings. The main objec-
tive of these interventions has always been aimed to meeting needs
derived from the maintenance and restoring, according to the con-
ditions of the paintings and the original facings. All that with the aim
of increasing the cultural and artistic value of this area, neglected for
more than two centuries and exposed to detrimental environmental
conditions, trying to transmit its values to future generations in the
best possible conditions.
To the extent that the extended restoring processes have been im-
plemented for more than a decade in the Bath murals, plentiful
painterly compositions, multiple remains and stucco have been ex-
posed. By means of these, we are conscious of the vast ornamenta-
tion to its full extent, implemented in this area of the palace during
Philip II years of reign in the last third of the sixteenth century, as a
consequence of his yearning for the gothic palace to be modernized
and renovated.
RESTORATION
INTERVENTIONS IN RENAISSANCE MURALS
OF THE PATIO DEL CRUCERO CENTRAL GALLERY
VALUATION OF THE INTERVENTIONS OVER LAST YEARS
Mª Isabel Baceiredo Rodríguez,
Art Conservator - Restorer
Pages 174-217
