Panselinos’ Byzantine wall paintings in the Protaton Church, Mount Athos, Greece: a technical examination

Byzantine wall paintings from Kastoria, northern Greece: Spectroscopic study of pigments and efflorescing salts

“…Three inorganic red pigments played an important role in medieval times: hematite (Fe 2 O 3 ), vermilion (HgS) and minium (Pb 3 O 4 ) [5,[10][11][12][13]. The red colour found on the painted surfaces of our samples is mainly attributed to Fe-rich minerals or cinnabar (HgS).…”

On the stability of mediaeval inorganic pigments: a literature review of the effect of climate, material selection, biological activity, analysis and conservation treatments

“…PbO 2 could be a metabolite of microorganisms such as fungi [217,239]. The parameters responsible for the blackening of minium are identified as light [5,240,243], including laser light (514 and 488 nm, [215]), the pigment's composition, and climate. These parameters all contribute to yield a grey discolouration at first, and finally a chocolate brown one [240].…”

An old notice board at ancient Herculaneum studied using Near Infrared Reflectography

“…changes made by author himself) (Wheelock, 1981) or to help in distinguishing replica (Ainsworth, 1992). NIRR has also been used to help in pigment identification (Daniilia et al, 2000) and to increase readability of carbonized or damaged objects (papyri) (Chabries et al, 2003) or to enhance the visibility of tattoo marks on mummified tissues (Alvrus et al, 2001). Recently, the technique has been used in the restoration field to optimise working times and costs and to have a complete diagnosis of an ancient artefact before intervening (e.g.…”