Elsevier

Microchemical Journal

Volume 96, Issue 2, November 2010, Pages 397-405
Microchemical Journal

Study and characterization of mural paintings from XIX Century in a noble Venetian (Italy) palace

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.microc.2010.07.003Get rights and content

Abstract

The present paper describes the characterization carried out on the roof of a private palace located in the historical center of Venice (Italy). We focused our attention on the studies of original constituent materials (pigments and binders), in order to identify the pictorial technique of the artist and verify the stylistic attribution to Giuseppe Borsato, a Venetian painter operating between 18th and 19th century. Characterization of collected samples was carried on using both conventional and advanced analytical techniques, such as Optical Microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with Energy Dispersive X-Ray (SEM–EDS) microscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) coupled with photodiode array detection (DAD) and Mass Spectrometry (MS). The finding of dating pigments (such as Cobalt blue and Cu–As based green) and of a complex binding's mixture compatible with the considered supposed period, allowed us to confirm the attribution hypothesis.

Section snippets

Research aims

This paper presents a summary of the physical and chemical characterizations performed on the roof of a private palace located in the historical center of Venice (Italy). The study focused on a series of decorative panels painted with organic binders on marmorino plaster. During the whole study period a detailed characterization of original materials, in order to study the artist's painting technique and verify the attribution of ceiling made during the last restoration was performed. Another

Standards

In order to find out specific binders used by the painter for the realization of the pictures, 18 commercially available blinders have been preliminary investigated and characterized by different techniques. Standard of binders samples used come from Bresciani (Milan, Italy). The standard solutions were prepared by dissolving approx. 20 mg in 20 ml of an appropriate solvent. Table 1 contains information relating to the analyzed standards and solvents used in this study.

Sampling and sample preparation

In an analytic study,

Pigments

Sample 6 was taken from the skirt on figure A (Fig. 1a) with the aim of determining the composition of yellow pigment and investigate the stratigraphic sequence. The first layer is thick, uniform and gray-white painted. It has smooth flow but with some discontinuities, probably due a layer's piece lost during procurement. Large white particles of CaCO3 (marble or more generally calcite) and MgCa(CO3)2 (dolomite) are present. This first layer was identified as the finish of marmorino layer. The

Conclusions

On the basis of the conducted characterization, the artist realized the ceiling in a period between late Eighteenth and early Nineteenth century. He was supposed to have used a mixed technique with a binder mixture made of linseed oil, egg yolk, animal glue and fig latex. The use of mixtures, sometimes with unusual composition, was characteristic of that artistic period [8], [14], [15]. The presence of beeswax only in the pictorial layer, let suppose of a surface treatment made mainly with this

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge Dr. Manuela Sgobbi (University of Venice) for her technical assistance with SEM analysis. The authors would also like to thank P. Del Turco (DTO servizi srl, Italian Agilent dealer) for his technical support.

References (16)

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