A study of medieval illuminated manuscripts by means of portable Raman equipments

Abstract

The pigments used in five important medieval illuminated manuscripts (Ms. Pal.6; Ms. Pal. 159; Ms. Pal. 212; Ms. Parm. 1650; Ms. Parm. 3063), all held in the Biblioteca Palatina in Parma (Italy), were analysed in situ by portable micro-Raman instruments supplied by Renishaw and Horiba Jobin-Yvon. In spite of a strong fluorescence background, different pigments were identified and important information on the pigment palette used in the manuscript illumination, helpful to clarify the history of the artworks, was obtained. Differences in the pigments used, suggesting late interventions, were found. In particular, an addition was identified in the Ms. Pal. 212 manuscript (Bruges -15th century), and late interventions were found in the coat of arms of Barbara of Brandenburg in her breviary (Ms. Pal. 6). A different origin for some rubrics and illumination was found in Ms. Parm. 3063, a 12th century Psalter, whereas common palettes for the different artists were confirmed for Ms. Parm. 1650 and for Ms. Pal. 159.

Pigment analysis by Raman microscopy and portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) of thirteenth to fourteenth century illuminations and cuttings from Bologna

“…But equally notable are the instances, which are few, of differences. The example of the red insect-based kermes pigment noted on one or other of the Latin manuscripts analysed [32] seems to stand alone, as does the unusual mixture of red lead and cinnabar in a Bolognese manuscript painted in a Paris workshop [28]. There may also be other instances of 'outliers' among the Glasgow manuscripts; the pinks, for example, were rendered differently: an iron, calcium and mercury-rich mixture and a lead-mercury mix in MS370 and MS6, respectively [19].…”

Vibrational spectroscopy for the study of Chilean cultural heritage

“…Raman spectroscopy is a powerful technique for the analysis of different kinds of materials, showing advantages related to the specificity, sensitivity, reproducibility, applicability, mobility and resolution (spatial and spectral) [5]; moreover, it is a non-invasive and non-destructive technique by itself. These advantages, coupled with recent developments in instrumentation and techniques, particularly the surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), have made it possible to extend its use in archaeometry and conservation [5][6][7][8][9][10][11]. Raman spectroscopy allowed identifying pigments and dyes used in the preparation of manuscripts, paintings, ceramics and textiles [12][13][14][15][16][17].…”

Raman Spectroscopy and X-Ray Fluorescence in Molecular Analysis of Yellow Blocks From the Archeological Site Playa Miller 7 (Northern Chile)

“…The greatest potential of Raman relates to their specificity, sensitivity, reproducibility, applicability in-situ, spatial and spectral resolution 5 , besides being a non-invasive and non-destructive technique. These advantages, coupled with recent developments in Raman instrumentation, have made it possible to extend the use of this technique to the conservation and archaeology [5][6][7][8][9][10][11] . Among others, the use of Raman allowed characterizing pigments and dyes used in the preparation of manuscripts, paintings, ceramics and textiles [12][13][14][15][16][17] .…”