par Reyniers, Jeroen;Schenkel, Arnaud ;Guillaume, Henry-Louis ;Henderiks, Valentine ;Debeir, Olivier ;Vercruysse, Lowie;Janssens, Koen
Référence Volkskunde, 126 e, 2-3, page (279-293)
Publication Publié, 2025-05-01
Article révisé par les pairs
Résumé : The PaReS project (Painted Relic Shrines in Situ) is an interdisciplinary research initiative dedicated to the study of polychromed wooden reliquary shrines preserved in Belgian churches and dating from before 1566. These artefacts, often overlooked in both academic literature and heritage conservation, played a central role in late medieval devotional practices — not only as containers for sacred relics but also as liturgical objects used in religious processions. While many such shrines were destroyed during iconoclastic episodes such as the Beeldenstorm of 1566, fourteen examples have survived in Belgium, eleven of which remain in an ecclesiastical context. This collaborative project brings together researchers from the Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage (KIK-IRPA), the Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), and the University of Antwerp. The project integrates art-historical research, conservation science, and advanced imaging technologies. Its methodology is structured around three core components: historical and visual documentation, conservation assessment, and material-technical analysis. The art-historical component includes archival research, bibliographic surveys, and three-dimensional visualisation through photogrammetry. High-resolution photography and the digitisation of KIK-IRPA’s historical photographic archive enable comparative studies of the shrines’ condition over time. Conservation experts carry out in-situ assessments to evaluate environmental risks, structural integrity, and ongoing degradation processes. Material-technical investigations involve dendrochronology and a range of non-invasive imaging techniques, such as infrared reflectography, radiography, and macro X-ray fluorescence (MA-XRF), all adapted to the shrines’ complex structures and layered construction. Preliminary findings indicate that these objects have undergone significant transformations over the centuries, including repainting, restoration, and the replacement of components —testifying to their continued liturgical use and cultural relevance. For example, the shrine in Hoeselt was last repainted in 1998, while variations in the composition of the Saint Eucherius shrine in Sint-Truiden suggest successive historical interventions. Beyond its scholarly contributions, PaReS aims to foster community engagement and educational outreach. Public presentations, academic and popular publications, student seminars, and local collaborations with cultural and heritage institutions serve to raise awareness of these lesser-known devotional artefacts. All data generated by the project will be made accessible via Belgium’s national heritage database, BALaT (Belgian Art Links and Tools), in line with the principle that ‘sharing is caring’, ensuring sustainable access for future researchers, conservators, and stakeholders. Ultimately, PaReS not only enriches our understanding of medieval religious material culture but also sets a benchmark for best practices in in-situ heritage research, conservation, and dissemination. By making these fragile yet historically significant objects both visible and intelligible to scholars, heritage professionals, and the public, the project contributes to their long-term preservation and cultural valorisation.

Documents en relation

DI-fusion