Pigments through the ages: examples from archaeological contexts of Campania region (southern Italy)

Abstract

The technological skills in the selection, combination and use of pigments from the ancient painters were investigated through the study of mural paintings of five archaeological contexts of Campania region, dated back from the 5 th century BCE to the 1 st century CE. The pigments were analysed by means of in-situ spectroscopic techniques and micro-destructive laboratory analyses. The multi-analytical approach revealed the use of pure (natural and synthetic) pigments and admixtures, created by the ancient painters to obtain different colour shades.