Arts and Culture
The paintings of the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe and the Fabriano Paper are some of the ancient artifacts that have stood the test of time. The Virgin of Guadalupe first appeared in Northern Mexico in December 1531 in Tepeyac town formerly known as Tepeyacac. From the time of her disappearance, historians in Mexico, and the Catholic society developed her image with various ancient paintings and stored it in the shrine of “Our Lady of Guadalupe” in Mexico City. Since the onset of the sixteenth century, the paintings and the image served as a symbol to the Catholic Church that has stood the test of time to date. The Fabriano Paper was first developed in the 15th century in Italy in Fabriano. The Fabriano Paper to date is still preserved in some of the museums in Italy. The two arts have stood the test of time due to their outstanding qualities and the methods of their preservation.
The paintings of the Virgin of Guadalupe stood the test of time because the image itself had qualities that are easily replicable as human. This quality has enabled the Catholic society worldwide to continue using the image as a symbol of “Our Lady of Guadalupe” who lived in Spain and Mexico in the 15th century. “The paintings done on the eye replicated that of the human eye by reflecting images around it” (Hughes, 2010). Moreover, the paintings of the image endured the test of time because the material used in the making it (tilma) had a rough surface that presented human interference. Tilma is a cloak made of cactus fiber. The duplicate of tilma has deteriorated faster than the original image, which had four apparitions. The analysis done on tilma by archeologists proved that the paintings would withstand some temperatures that have destroyed other paintings in many museums. The paintings of the Virgin of Guadalupe were indestructible (Hughes, 2010). Two incidences in history posed potential threats to damaging the tilma. First, a cleaner accidentally poured nitric acid solvent on the image but neither the image nor the painting was destroyed, and it remained unscathed (Hughes, 2010). The 1921 bomb saga shattered the marble altar where the image was stored, twisting the brass crucifix, but tilma remained intact.
The Fabriano Paper was made of low acidic content and was stored in climate-controlled surroundings but not in attics. Because every paper is subject to mold growth, the historians in Rome ensured the Fabriano paper was stored below 72 degrees F. Sylvia Rodgers Albro acknowledged the quality of the Fabriano Paper in her lecture. She said, “The Fabriano paper is remarkable for its exceptional permanence and quality” (Albro, 2009). The Fabriano paper was kept free from pests, acidic surfaces, and away from fluorescent light. All these conditions destroy paper materials fast.
Human creations from our own time can stand similar tests of time if the archeologist and the historians follow similar paths of storage and materials used in making these items. Currently, there a couple of such human creations, which I believe will stand the test of time. They include the artworks of the AI-Art Supplant Humans, the Da Vinci robots from the artistic impressions, and the arts of the autonomous vehicles. The society is drifting at an alarming speed towards technology. All these creative works will ensure the right course of technical intervention is maintained. Thus they will stand the tests of time. Besides, the materials used in making these arts are stronger metallic materials, and durable paintings that are stored under room temperatures to prevent corrosion, and acidic contaminations.
References
Albro, S. R. (2009, April 28). Topics in Preservation Series (TOPS). Retrieved from The Library of Congress: www.loc.gov
Hughes, J. S. (2010). Biography of a Mexican Crucifix: Lived Religion and Local Faith from the Conquest to the Present. Oxford University Press.