X-ray powder diffraction of mineral pigments and medicines from the 17^th century pharmacy (Spezieria) Santa Maria della Scala in Rome, Italy

Abstract

The pharmacy (spezieria) Santa Maria della Scala was founded in Rome by the Discalced Carmelites Order in the 17th century, and during the 18th and 19th centuries it became the official supplier of medicines for Vatican Popes. The laboratory and the cases of this spezieria still preserve glass jars with organic and inorganic materials, which were presumably used for medicine and artistic material preparation, whose composition is unknown to date. A research project was initiated with the aim to study the stored materials and the role that the pharmacy played in regional, national and international contexts. In this manuscript, the compounds were analysed through X-ray powder diffraction with the scope to derive the quantitative mineralogical composition of the inorganic fraction, their possible use in pharmacopoeias and as mineral pigments. Most of the analysed samples are salts (sulphates, chlorides, carbonates, phosphates, borates, sulphides), sulphates being the predominant class; oxides were also detected.

In search of Humboldt’s colors: materials and techniques of a 17th-century lacquered gourd from Colombia

“…Calomel, naturally formed from the alteration of other mercury-containing mineral ores such as cinnabar (HgS) upon reaction with chlorine in the atmosphere or in chorine-rich soils [42][43][44][45][46][47][48], has been known as an ingredient in medications and cosmetics [49][50][51]. However, it can also be manufactured artificially.…”

3D Model Acquisition and Image Processing for the Virtual Musealization of the Spezieria di Santa Maria della Scala, Rome

“…tives outlined in the first phase of the project (2016-2019). These objectives were (1) to address the physicochemical characterization of the hundreds of drugs contained in the oldest containers at Santa Maria della Scala (which date from the late 17th century and early 18th century); (2) to conduct a historical and cultural study of the substances and recipes identified; (3) to study the geographical and temporal origin of these characterized medicinal treatments and explore their transmission and evolution through time; and (4) to complete the inventory and cataloguing of the personal property owned by this Roman spezieria. The results of the numerous research projects conducted at the spezieria over the last seven years (2016-2022) by the Department of Art History of the Universitat de València confirm that the Roman spezieria of Santa Maria della Scala is an ancient and historical mosaic of pharmaceutical knowledge [1][2][3][4][5][6].…”

“…These objectives were (1) to address the physicochemical characterization of the hundreds of drugs contained in the oldest containers at Santa Maria della Scala (which date from the late 17th century and early 18th century); (2) to conduct a historical and cultural study of the substances and recipes identified; (3) to study the geographical and temporal origin of these characterized medicinal treatments and explore their transmission and evolution through time; and (4) to complete the inventory and cataloguing of the personal property owned by this Roman spezieria. The results of the numerous research projects conducted at the spezieria over the last seven years (2016-2022) by the Department of Art History of the Universitat de València confirm that the Roman spezieria of Santa Maria della Scala is an ancient and historical mosaic of pharmaceutical knowledge [1][2][3][4][5][6]. These results have been possible thanks to the support provided by various national and international funding sources and to the scientific collaboration of universities, research centers and laboratories in Spain, Italy, France, Portugal and Switzerland, all of which responded in a coordinated manner to the objectives outlined in the first phase of the project (2016-2019).…”