Möller, Hans-Herbert [Editor]; Institut für Denkmalpflege [Editor]; Niedersächsisches Landesamt für Denkmalpflege [Editor]: Arbeitshefte zur Denkmalpflege in Niedersachsen: Schäden an Wandmalereien und ihre Ursachen: ein Forschungsprojekt des Bundesministers für Forschung und Technologie; aktuelle Vorberichte zu den ersten interdisziplinären Befunden ([Hannover]: Inst. für Denkmalpflege, Heft 8.1990)

Summary
The investigations of measures, planning and construction in
Bishop Sigwards church in Idensen have proved that there
exist undiscovered rules for wall paintings.
Certain distance-measures and leading-numbers are re-
peated from scene to scene. The continuance in the use of
these measures and numbers is as well logical as surprising.
Studies of the same theme in a serie of churches of the 12th
century on Sealand show the use of exactly the same
measures and leading-numbers of the wall paintings in Den-
mark.
This new knowledge indicates, that certain formalised rules
have existed in the wall paintings in the 12th century. The
limits for the extent of these rules are not yet known.
The used measures and leading-numbers are based on a

decimal graduation of 2 Roman feet in 10 units and 100 sub-
units (1 Roman foot = 29,57 centimetres).
The system, which is a further development of the Roman
rules for linear measuring, involves some advantages for the
wall painter, who owing to working scaffolds close under the
vaults or along the walls, has had no possibility to survey or
coordinate the scenes.
On the basis of the Roman foot and the decimal system it
has been ascertained, that in Idensen and on Sealand has
been a distinct use of the leading numbers 3, 7 and 12 in the
wall paintings. This shows that the planning of the paintings
could be based on holy numbers.
The principle in the graduation of the Roman foot has been
discovered by the author of the article in connection with the
examination of the wall paintings in Saint lb’s chapel in Ro-
skilde in 1987.

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