The Wall Paintings at St Stephen’s Chapel, Westminster Palace: Recent Imaging and Scientific Analysis of the Fragments in the British Museum

Recent scientific analysis of wall painting fragments from St Stephen’s Chapel, Westminster Palace, has uncovered significant insights into the techniques and workshop practices used during their creation in the mid-14th century. Infrared imaging revealed an under-drawing layer with extensive modifications made late in the painting process, suggesting a collaborative or iterative approach to design. Variations in the under-drawing styles across fragments hint at multiple artists' involvement, providing a glimpse into medieval workshop dynamics. Additionally, traces of original varnish and the identification of red lake pigment, along with detailed pigment mixtures and layer stratigraphy, have been elucidated. These findings are contextualized within contemporary documentary sources and analytical data from other polychromy studies, offering a deeper understanding of the artistic and technical practices of the period.

Howard, H., de Beer, L., Saunders, D., & Higgitt, C. (2020). The Wall Paintings at St Stephen’s Chapel, Westminster Palace: Recent Imaging and Scientific Analysis of the Fragments in the British Museum. British Art Studies, (16). https://doi.org/10.17658/issn.2058-5462/issue-16/oneobject