Techniques

«Working with centuries old traditions…»

The products and materials needed for making these sculptures, using the tools and techniques of past centuries, are fresh eggs, garlic, gold leaf (24 carat), rabbit glue, gesso, Armenian clay, natural linen, Soria pine, lacquer, natural pigments and earths, and oil paints.



The crafts

The creation of an image involves various processes belonging to different traditional crafts, all of which form part of the profession of ‘imaginero’ or sculptor of religious images:

Knowledge of the carpenter’s trade is fundamental for choosing the wood and preparing the block to be sculpted.

Similarly, the modelling of the image is the work of a sculptor, which, combined with that of the hollowing and modelling, give form to the mould and the final model. The same person who has modelled the work of art carves the final image.

The gilder is responsible for applying this noble metal, while the painter is responsible for the decoration with oil paints, egg tempera and the ‘estofados’.


The Processes

All the procedures, treatments and techniques used in the workshops of ‘imagineros’ for centuries are as follows.

» Research and Documentation

» Drawing of Sketches

» Preparation of the Model

» Selection of the Wood

» Preparation of the Block

» Drawing the Silhouette of the Figure

» Marking Reference Points and Roughing-Down

» Carving and Modelling

» Hollowing out the Interior

» Collocation of the Glass Eyes

» Assembly and Preparation

» Application of Garlic and Linen

» Application of Gesso

» Painting with Fresh Eggs

» Oil Painting

» Water Gilding

» ‘Estofados’

» Finish and Protection