English | French

Unexpected Findings in 16th Century Wall Paintings: Identification of Aragonite and Unusual Pigments

Tools

Rampazzi, Laura, Corti, Cristina, Geminiani, Ludovico and Recchia, Sandro (2021) Unexpected Findings in 16th Century Wall Paintings: Identification of Aragonite and Unusual Pigments. Heritage, 4 . pp. 2431-2448. ISSN 2571-9408 [Article]

[img]
Preview
 PDF
Heritage_2021_2.pdf
Download (19MB) | Preview

Abstract (in English)

Sixteenth century wall paintings were analyzed from a church in an advanced state of decay in the Apennines of central Italy, now a remote area but once located along the salt routes from the Po Valley to the Ligurian Sea. Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with a microprobe were used to identify the painting materials, as input for possible future restoration. Together with the pigments traditionally used for wall painting, such as ochre, ultramarine blue, bianco di Sangiovanni, cinnabar/vermilion, azurite, some colors were also found to have only been used since the 18th century. This thus suggests that a series of decorative cycles occurred after the church was built, confirmed by the multilayer stratigraphy of the fragments. Some of these colors were also unusual, such as clinochlore, Brunswick green, and ultramarine yellow. The most notable result of the analytical campaign however, was the ubiquitous determination of aragonite, the mineralogical form of calcium carbonate, mainly of biogenic origin. Sources report its use in Roman times as an aggregate in mortars, and in the literature it has only been shown in Roman wall paintings. Its use in 16th century wall paintings is thus surprising

Item Type: Article
Authors:
Authors
Email
Rampazzi, Laura
laura.rampazzi@uninsubria.it
Corti, Cristina
UNSPECIFIED
Geminiani, Ludovico
UNSPECIFIED
Recchia, Sandro
UNSPECIFIED
Languages: English
Keywords: Aragonite; Brunswick green; clinochlore; FTIR; mortars; SEM-EDX; ultramarine yellow; vermilion; wall paintings; XRD
Subjects: A. THEORETICAL AND GENERAL ASPECTS > 06. History of architecture
C.ARCHITECTURE > 05. Building techniques
C.ARCHITECTURE > 08. Wall paintings
F.SCIENTIFIC TECHNIQUES AND METHODOLOGIES OF CONSERVATION > 09. Archaeometry
F.SCIENTIFIC TECHNIQUES AND METHODOLOGIES OF CONSERVATION > 28. Infra red analysis
F.SCIENTIFIC TECHNIQUES AND METHODOLOGIES OF CONSERVATION > 34. Microanalysis
F.SCIENTIFIC TECHNIQUES AND METHODOLOGIES OF CONSERVATION > 35. Mineralogical analysis
P. GEOGRAPHIC AREAS > 05. Europe
Name of monument, town, site, museum: Church of Santo Stefano (Selva di Cerignale, Piacenza, Italy)
Volume: 4
ISSN: 2571-9408
Depositing User: dr Laura Rampazzi
Date Deposited: 10 Dec 2021 21:57
Last Modified: 10 Dec 2021 21:57
References: 1. Pearce, M. Reconstructing past transapennine routes: The Trebbia valley. Reconstr. Past Transapennine Routes Trebbia Val. 2002, 6, 181–183.

2. Wilson, M.J. Clay Mineralogy: Spectroscopic and Chemical Determinative Methods; Chapman & Hall: London, UK, 1994; ISBN 9780412533808.

3. Bikiaris, D.; Daniilia, S.; Sotiropoulou, S.; Katsimbiri, O.; Pavlidou, E.; Moutsatsou, A.P.; Chryssoulakis, Y. Ochre-differentiation through micro-Raman and micro-FTIR spectroscopies: Application on wall paintings at Meteora and Mount Athos, Greece. Spectrochim. Acta Part A Mol. Biomol. Spectrosc. 2000, 56, 3–18. [CrossRef]

4. Bugini, R.; Corti, C.; Folli, L.; Rampazzi, L. Unveiling the Use of Creta in Roman Plasters: Analysis of Clay Wall Paintings from Brixia (Italy). Archaeometry 2017, 59, 84–95. [CrossRef]

5. Crupi, V.; La Russa, M.F.; Venuti, V.; Ruffolo, S.; Ricca, M.; Paladini, G.; Albini, R.; Macchia, A.; Denaro, L.; Birarda, G.; et al. A combined SR-based Raman and InfraRed investigation of pigmenting matter used in wall paintings: The San Gennaro and San Gaudioso Catacombs (Naples, Italy) case. Eur. Phys. J. Plus 2018, 133, 369. [CrossRef]

6. Eastaugh, N.; Walsh, V.; Chaplin, T.; Siddall, R. Pigment Compendium: A Dictionary and Optical Microscopy of Historical Pigments; Pigment Compendium: A Dictionary and Optical Microscopy of Historical Pigments; Butterworth-Heinemann: Oxford, UK, 2008; ISBN 9780750689809.

7. Derrick, M.R.; Stulik, D.; Landry, J.M. Infrared Spectroscopy in Conservation Science; The Getty Conservation Institute: Los Angeles, CA, USA, 1999; ISBN 0892364696.

8. Bugini, R.; Corti, C.; Folli, L.; Rampazzi, L. Roman Wall Paintings: Characterisation of Plaster Coats Made of Clay Mud. Heritage 2021, 4, 48. [CrossRef]

9. Montoya, C.; Lanas, J.; Arandigoyen, M.; Navarro, I.; García Casado, P.J.; Alvarez, J.I. Study of ancient dolomitic mortars of the church of Santa Maria de Zamarce in Navarra (Spain): Comparison with simulated standards. Thermochim. Acta 2003, 398, 107–122. [CrossRef]

10. Igea, J.; Lapuente, P.; Martínez-Ramírez, S.; Blanco-Varela, M.T. Characterization of mudejar mortars from St. Gil Abbot church (Zaragoza, Spain): Investigation of the manufacturing technology of ancient gypsum mortars. Mater. Constr. 2012, 62, 515–529. [CrossRef]

11. Biscontin, G.; Pellizon Birelli, M.; Zendri, E. Characterization of binders employed in the manufacture of Venetian historical mortars. J. Cult. Herit. 2002, 3, 31–37. [CrossRef]

12. Crupi, V.; D’Amico, S.; Denaro, L.; Donato, P.; Majolino, D.; Paladini, G.; Persico, R.; Saccone, M.; Sansotta, C.; Spagnolo, G.V.; et al. Mobile Spectroscopy in Archaeometry: Some Case Study. J. Spectrosc. 2018, 2018, 1–11. [CrossRef]

13. Zhang, K.; Grimoldi, A.; Rampazzi, L.; Sansonetti, A.; Corti, C. Contribution of thermal analysis in the characterization of lime-based mortars with oxblood addition. Thermochim. Acta 2019, 678, 178303. [CrossRef]

14. Zhang, K.; Corti, C.; Grimoldi, A.; Rampazzi, L.; Sansonetti, A. Application of Different Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Methods in the Characterization of Lime-Based Mortars with Oxblood. Appl. Spectrosc. 2019, 73, 479–491. [CrossRef]

15. Žigovecˇki Gobac, Ž.; Posilovic ́, H.; Bermanec, V. Identification of biogenetic calcite and aragonite using SEM. Geol. Croat. 2009, 62, 201–206. [CrossRef]

16. Roy, A. Artists’ Pigments: A Handbook of Their History and Characteristics; Oxford University Press: London, UK, 1993; Volume 2, ISBN 9780894681899.

17. Aroke, U.O.; Abdulkarim, A.; Ogubunka, R.O. Fourier-transform Infrared Characterization of Kaolin, Granite, Bentonite and Barite. ATBU J. Environ. Technol. 2013, 6, 42–53.

18. Ranalli, G.; Bosch-Roig, P.; Crudele, S.; Rampazzi, L.; Corti, C.; Zanardini, E. Dry biocleaning of artwork: An innovative methodology for Cultural Heritage recovery? Microb. Cell 2021, 8, 91–105. [CrossRef]

19. Edreira, M.C.; Feliu, M.J.; Fernández-Lorenzo, C.; Martín, J. Roman wall paintings characterization from Cripta del Museo and Alcazaba in Mérida (Spain): Chromatic, energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopic, X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analysis. Anal. Chim. Acta 2001, 434, 331–345. [CrossRef]

20. Gebremariam, K.F.; Kvittingen, L.; Banica, F.-G. Physico-Chemical Characterization of Pigments and Binders of Murals in a Church in Ethiopia. Archaeometry 2016, 58, 271–283. [CrossRef]

21. Scott, D.A. Copper and Bronze in Art: Corrosion, Colorants, Conservation; Getty Conservation Institute: Los Angeles, CA, USA, 2002; ISBN 0892366389.

22. Setti, M.; Lanfranchi, A.; Cultrone, G.; Marinoni, L. Archaeometric investigation and evaluation of the decay of ceramic materials from the church of Santa Maria del Carmine in Pavia, Italy. Mater. Constr. 2012, 62, 79–98. [CrossRef]

23. Gabrielli, N. Technical-scientific investigations to detect the temporal vicissitudes of the funeral monument of Innocent VIII (Giovanbattista Cibo, 1484–1492), compared with that of Sixtus IV (Francesco della Rovere 1471–1484), both made by Antonio del Pollaiolo. Nat. Prod. Res. 2019, 33, 926–936. [CrossRef]

24. Otero, V.; Campos, M.F.; Pinto, J.V.; Vilarigues, M.; Carlyle, L.; Melo, M.J. Barium, zinc and strontium yellows in late 19th–early 20th century oil paintings. Herit. Sci. 2017, 5, 46. [CrossRef]

25. Fulton, E.L.; Newman, R.; Woodward, J.; Wright, J. The Methods and Materials of Martin Johnson Heade. J. Am. Inst. Conserv. 2002, 41, 155. [CrossRef]

26. Klyachkovskaya, E.V.; Kozhukh, N.M.; Rozantsev, V.A.; Gaponenko, S.V. Layer-by-Layer Laser Spectrum Microanalysis of Easel-Painting Materials. J. Appl. Spectrosc. 2005, 72, 371–375. [CrossRef]

27. Vetter, W.; Schreiner, M. A Fiber Optic Reflection-UV/Vis/NIR-System for Non-Destructive Analysis of Art Objects. Adv. Chem. Sci. 2014, 3, 7–14.

28. Grifoni, E.; Briganti, L.; Marras, L.; Orsini, S.; Colombini, M.P.; Legnaioli, S.; Lezzerini, M.; Lorenzetti, G.; Pagnotta, S.; Palleschi, V. The chemical-physical knowledge before the restoration: The case of “The Plague in Lucca”, a masterpiece of Lorenzo Viani (1882–1936). Herit. Sci. 2015, 3, 26. [CrossRef]

29. Romano, F.P.; Caliri, C.; Nicotra, P.; Di Martino, S.; Pappalardo, L.; Rizzo, F.; Santos, H.C. Real-time elemental imaging of large dimension paintings with a novel mobile macro X-ray fluorescence (MA-XRF) scanning technique. J. Anal. At. Spectrom. 2017, 32, 773–781. [CrossRef]

30. Cristea-Stan, D.; Constantinescu, B. Studies on pigments of religious mural paintings using a portable X-ray Fluorescence spectrometer—The cases of Urechesti-Cicanesti Arges and Icoanei Bucuresti churches. Proc. Rom. Acad. Ser. A 2019, 20, 347–352.

31. Regazzoni, L.; Cavallo, G.; Biondelli, D.; Gilardi, J. Microscopic Analysis of Wall Painting Techniques: Laboratory Replicas and

Romanesque Case Studies in Southern Switzerland. Stud. Conserv. 2018, 63, 326–341. [CrossRef]

32. Kriznar, A.; Ruiz-Conde, A.; Sánchez-Soto, P.J. Microanalysis of Gothic mural paintings (15th century) in Slovenia: Investigation

of the technique used by the Masters. X-ray Spectrom. 2008, 37, 360–369. [CrossRef]

33. Piovesan, R.; Mazzoli, C.; Maritan, L.; Cornale, P. Fresco and lime-paint: An experimental study and objective criteria for

distinguishing between these painting techniques. Archaeometry 2012, 54, 723–736. [CrossRef]

34. Mugnaini, S.; Bagnoli, A.; Bensi, P.; Droghini, F.; Scala, A.; Guasparri, G. Thirteenth century wall paintings under the Siena

Cathedral (Italy). Mineralogical and petrographic study of materials, painting techniques and state of conservation. J. Cult. Herit.

2006, 7, 171–185. [CrossRef]

35. Mora, P.; Mora, L.; Philippot, P. La Conservazione delle Pitture Murali; Editrice Compositori: Bologna, Italy, 1999; ISBN 8877941839.

36. Rampazzi, L. Calcium oxalate films on works of art: A review. J. Cult. Herit. 2019, 40, 195–214. [CrossRef]

37. Dilaria, S. Costruire ingegnosamente riutilizzando materiali poveri. L’impiego di conchiglie a fini edilizi ad Aquileia tra età

repubblicana e tarda antichità. REUDAR. Eur. J. Rom. Archit. 2017, 1, 25. [CrossRef]

38. Asscher, Y.; van Zuiden, A.; Elimelech, C.; Gendelman, P.; Ad, U.; Sharvit, J.; Secco, M.; Ricci, G.; Artioli, G. Prescreening

Hydraulic Lime-Binders for Disordered Calcite in Caesarea Maritima: Characterizing the Chemical Environment Using FTIR.

Radiocarbon 2020, 62, 527–543. [CrossRef]

39. Brysbaert, A. Lapis Lazuli in an Enigmatic ‘Purple’ Pigment from a Thirteenth-Century BC Greek Wall Painting. Stud. Conserv.

2006, 51, 252–266. [CrossRef]

40. Mazzocchin, G.; Del Favero, M.; Tasca, G. Analysis of Pigments from Roman Wall Paintings Found in the “Agro Centuriato” of

Julia Concordia (Italy). Ann. Chim. 2007, 97, 905–913. [CrossRef]

41. Mazzocchin, G.A.; Vianello, A.; Minghelli, S.; Rudello, D. Analysis of roman wall paintings from the thermae of ‘Iulia Concordia’.

Archaeometry 2010, 52, 644–655. [CrossRef]

42. Duran, A.; Jimenez De Haro, M.C.; Perez-Rodriguez, J.L.; Franquelo, M.L.; Herrera, L.K.; Justo, A. Determination of pigments and

binders in pompeian wall paintings using synchrotron radiation—High-resolution X-ray powder diffraction and conventional

spectroscopy—Chromatography. Archaeometry 2010, 52, 286–307. [CrossRef]

43. Corti, C.; Rampazzi, L.; Visoná, P. Hellenistic mortar and plaster from Contrada Mella near Oppido Mamertina (Calabria, Italy).

Int. J. Conserv. Sci. 2016, 7, 57–70.

44. Garofano, I.; Perez-Rodriguez, J.L.; Robador, M.D.; Duran, A. An innovative combination of non-invasive UV–Visible-FORS,

XRD and XRF techniques to study Roman wall paintings from Seville, Spain. J. Cult. Herit. 2016, 22, 1028–1039. [CrossRef]
URI: https://openarchive.icomos.org/id/eprint/2531

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item

Metadata

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

View more statistics

© ICOMOS
https://www.icomos.org/en
documentation(at)icomos.org