Study of tempera painting on canvas in Spain in the XVI century through old documents: painted sargas inside houses

Tempera painting on canvas were used throughout history for multiple functions, both sacred and profane. So, they were used as altar curtains, decorative elements in courteous parties, tombs, theater scenery paintings, hangings that decorate the walls, etc. The present article study one of these types of temple, in concrete, the one called sargaspintadas. On the basis of an old documentation studio, especially of treaties, ordinances of painters and inventories of goods, the concept of this type of painting has been defined, as the main objetive of this research. As can be appreciated in the article, these are works that were implemented with decorative function and as insulating elements for the cold and warmth inside the houses. Also, the study carried out shows that painted sargas shared this function with another type of sargas, embroidered, in some cases made of silk, and also with other decorative elements such as tapestries and guadamecies, considered more sumptuous. The study carried out allows to delimit the time of the sargas, until the end of the 16th century. Other types of tempera paintings on canvas at that time, such as altar curtains, received other designations based on their functionality, though the pictorial technique applied to them is also tempera painting. Furthermore, the term sargas will not be used in artistic treatises to designate later temples. These kind of works that had an ornamental function in domestic interiors are also found in other countries, as Netherlands and England, where lately researches on this particular issue have also been carried out.

Automated summary

This study explores the history and functions of tempera painting on canvas, which were used for both sacred and profane purposes throughout history. The research reveals that these works served decorative and insulating functions inside houses, alongside embroidered sargas and other sumptuous decorative elements. The study delimits the time frame of sargas paintings until the end of the 16th century, also noting the existence of similar works in countries like the Netherlands and England.