This initiative, financed by the Fund for Bilateral Relations of the EEA Grants, brought together conservation and heritage researchers from NOVA FCT, the National Museums of Arte Antiga and Machado de Castro, the University of Oslo, and the National Trust of Norway. The main goal was to foster and strengthen collaboration between Portuguese and Norwegian scholars focused on the study of medieval polychrome sculpture.
Surviving examples have been investigated within very different research traditions, which pose significant challenges for comparing the long and complex histories of these objects, chiefly their histories of restoration and conservation. In Portugal, research has been mostly limited to art-historical and iconographic studies, with recent investments in systematic material studies. These sculptures have either poorly preserved original polychromy, or the nature of the original cannot be assessed since original layers have unsystematically been removed and are covered by later decorations. This has had a significant impact on the condition and interpretation of these pieces. By contrast, research in Norway has focused on the characterization of original materials and, unlike in Portugal, there are examples that retain original decoration that is not substantially covered by later repaints. Since the 1960s, many foundational studies have been published, which enhance understanding of craftsmanship, devotional practices, and conservation histories. Still, substantial information remains in internal reports. Perhaps the most significant barrier to comparing medieval sculptures in these countries is that unpublished studies are written in Portuguese and Norwegian, hampering access to crucial information.
To address these challenges, and to learn from contrasting realities, the partners held periodic online meetings and conducted field visits to critically re-examine past results and methodologies. These dialogues between established experts, explored research strategies, and ultimately strengthened cooperation leading to improved multifaceted interpretations. The long-term aim is to prepare a much larger initiative which will place medieval polychromed heritage of Portugal and Norway into a broader European context.
One of the project's key achievements was the identification and definition of unpublished internal reports, which were subsequently exchanged and organized into a standardized template created specifically for this purpose. This material, corresponding to 61 reports, each filled into its respective template, is crucial as it is both unpublished and difficult to access, yet it significantly expands our current knowledge of these objects in both countries. The next steps will involve preparing a future research project to translate, critically revise, interpret, and synthesize these reports.
Furthermore, discussions about how to effectively communicate the findings in a museum context, with an emphasis on enhancing the public experience, led to improvements in the project’s short film and to the selection of new objects for study.
The project was disseminated by its website, in a short film which is being exhibited at the MNAA, and in two presentations at the international symposium Archaeology of Colour – The production of polychromy in sculpture up to the 16th century. Additionally, a paper outlining the scope and the results of this project and of a sibling project was published in June 2024 (eISBN 978-615-6696-36-6).