FT-Raman spectroscopic analysis of pigments from an Augustinian friary

Abstract

The Raman spectroscopic analysis of several stone samples with applied red pigments obtained from an archaeological excavation of an Augustinian friary discovered during the construction of an extension to Hull Magistrates Court in 1994 has revealed a surprising diversity of composition. Cinnabar, red lead and haematite have all been identified alone or in admixture; the cinnabar is exceptional in that it has only been found heavily adulterated with red ochre and red lead, as the other two pigments are found alone. There are signatures of limewash putty, which has been applied to the stone substrate prior to the painting, which is characteristic of the Roman method of wall painting, and there are no traces of gypsum found in the specimens studied. This evidence indicates an early mediaeval method of stone decoration.

Non‐destructive characterization of 17th century painted silk banner by the combined use of Raman and XRF portable systems

“…The peaks below 200 cm −1 were not detected due to limitations associated with the model the Raman instrument employed. According to the literature, the application of the gilding over the ground layer containing the mixture of vermilion with red lead has a rich historical background . Vermilion, red lead, or other red iron oxide pigments were commonly added into the gilding adhesive with the aim of enhancing the colour of the gold.…”

Raman spectroscopy of minerals and mineral pigments in archaeometry

“…The pigments of the polychrome limestone sculpture ‘Las tres generaciones’ (Cathedral's Museum of Santiago de Compostela, Spain) were characterized by Prieto et al Edwards et al reported a study on pigments on stone samples from an Augustinian friary. He et al performed a multianalytical study of the polychromy in the Guangyuan Thousand‐Buddha Grotto, ‘the museum of painted stone sculpture’: the complex analysis suggests atacamite and malachite as true green pigments.…”

The first spectroscopic analysis of Ethiopian prehistoric rock painting

“…The relative Raman spectra acquired on different points of black samples evidenced the carbon‐containing compound presence by means of the characteristic two broad features G (graphitic, 1580 cm –1 ) and D1 (disorder, 1320 cm –1 ), respectively assigned to crystalline graphite and to structural disorder in the graphitic structure (Fig. S4).…”