Themed collection Molecular Analysis for Art, Archaeometry and Conservation

25 items
Editorial

Molecular Analysis for Art, Archaeometry and Conservation

This Editorial introduces the web collection on Molecular Analysis for Art, Archaeometry and Conservation, guest edited by Francesca Casadio and Richard Van Duyne.

Graphical abstract: Molecular Analysis for Art, Archaeometry and Conservation
Communication

Near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy: a potential new means of assessing multi-phase earth-built heritage

The analysis of clays within historic earth buildings is commonly achieved through X-ray diffraction, which is reliant upon extraction. Portable near infrared spectroscopy allows in situ differentiation between clays.

Graphical abstract: Near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy: a potential new means of assessing multi-phase earth-built heritage
Paper

Analysis of cadmium-based pigments with time-resolved photoluminescence

For the first time we report the band edge and trap state luminescence decay kinetics of cadmium pigments. The measured lifetimes suggest that carrier recombination is highly influenced by non-radiative decay paths such as electron trapping. Our findings highlight how luminescence measurements are useful in the conservation science field.

Graphical abstract: Analysis of cadmium-based pigments with time-resolved photoluminescence
Open Access Paper

Looking beneath Dalí's paint: non-destructive canvas analysis

A new analytical method was developed to non-destructively determine pH and degree of polymerisation (DP) of cellulose in fibres in 19th–20th century painting canvases, and to identify the fibre type: cotton, linen, hemp, ramie or jute.

Graphical abstract: Looking beneath Dalí's paint: non-destructive canvas analysis
Paper

Is Khirbet Kerak Ware from Khirbet al-Batrawy (Jordan) local or imported pottery?

A multi-analytical approach has been applied to characterize Khirbet Kerak Ware, a distinctive pottery production of Early Bronze III Levant.

Graphical abstract: Is Khirbet Kerak Ware from Khirbet al-Batrawy (Jordan) local or imported pottery?
Paper

Non-destructive characterization of archaeological resins: seeking alteration criteria through vibrational signatures

New insights into copal degradation mechanisms are introduced and relevant analytical strategies for resinous substances through non-destructive approaches by FT-Raman and ATR-IR are presented.

Graphical abstract: Non-destructive characterization of archaeological resins: seeking alteration criteria through vibrational signatures
Open Access Paper

SR-FTIR imaging of the altered cadmium sulfide yellow paints in Henri Matisse's Le Bonheur de vivre (1905–6) – examination of visually distinct degradation regions

Cadmium yellow photo-degradation products are imaged in thin sections from Matisse's Le Bonheur de vivre allowing for degradation mechanism elucidation.

Graphical abstract: SR-FTIR imaging of the altered cadmium sulfide yellow paints in Henri Matisse's Le Bonheur de vivre (1905–6) – examination of visually distinct degradation regions
Paper

Silver colloidal pastes for dye analysis of reference and historical textile fibers using direct, extractionless, non-hydrolysis surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

Silver colloidal pastes, characterized by SEM, allowed the first extractionless SERS identification of two dyes simultaneously on historical Fortuny textiles.

Graphical abstract: Silver colloidal pastes for dye analysis of reference and historical textile fibers using direct, extractionless, non-hydrolysis surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy
Paper

Alteration of Asian lacquer: in-depth insight using a physico-chemical multiscale approach

A new approach was developed as a probe for alteration of Asian lacquer using SEM, microtopography and SR micro-FTIR.

Graphical abstract: Alteration of Asian lacquer: in-depth insight using a physico-chemical multiscale approach
Open Access Paper

Quantifying degradation of collagen in ancient manuscripts: the case of the Dead Sea Temple Scroll

A quantitative method based on polarized Raman spectroscopy was developed to assess the degree of collagen degradation in historical parchments.

Graphical abstract: Quantifying degradation of collagen in ancient manuscripts: the case of the Dead Sea Temple Scroll
Paper

Characterization of the Dead Sea Scrolls by advanced analytical techniques

Fast 2D-XRF scanning helps to differentiate between the minerals from the production process and the sediments from the archaeological site.

Graphical abstract: Characterization of the Dead Sea Scrolls by advanced analytical techniques
Paper

Vibrational spectroscopy correlated with elemental analysis for the investigation of smalt pigment and its alteration in paintings

New insights into the chemical structure of smalt pigment, before and after degradation, from the application of synchrotron micro-infrared spectroscopy and micro-Raman directly on smalt particles within paint cross-sections.

Graphical abstract: Vibrational spectroscopy correlated with elemental analysis for the investigation of smalt pigment and its alteration in paintings
Paper

Proteomics applied to the authentication of fish glue: application to a 17th century artwork sample

This work provides the first identification of fish glue from a few micrograms of a 17th century polychromy sample using an adapted proteomics approach.

Graphical abstract: Proteomics applied to the authentication of fish glue: application to a 17th century artwork sample
Paper

Mobile Raman spectroscopy analysis of ancient enamelled glass masterpieces

Richly decorated enamelled glass objects and fragments of different provenance and epoch (1st c.–14th c.) have been analysed using mobile and fixed Raman instruments. The comparison with data existing in literature, allowed to discuss the technology of this class of precious artefacts and the potential of the mobile Raman analysis.

Graphical abstract: Mobile Raman spectroscopy analysis of ancient enamelled glass masterpieces
Paper

Mapping of egg yolk and animal skin glue paint binders in Early Renaissance paintings using near infrared reflectance imaging spectroscopy

Development of high sensitivity standoff chemical imaging to map artist's selective use of binding media across entire painting.

Graphical abstract: Mapping of egg yolk and animal skin glue paint binders in Early Renaissance paintings using near infrared reflectance imaging spectroscopy
Paper

Systematic study of terahertz time-domain spectra of historically informed black inks

Advanced iron gall ink corrosion (image courtesy Nationaal Archief) and a terahertz spectrum of model iron gall ink.

Graphical abstract: Systematic study of terahertz time-domain spectra of historically informed black inks
Paper

Identification of collagen-based materials in cultural heritage

Peptide mass fingerprinting provides species level identification of soft tissue materials from cultural heritage.

Graphical abstract: Identification of collagen-based materials in cultural heritage
Paper

Statistical methods and library search approaches for fast and reliable identification of dyes using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)

SERS combined with simple statistical techniques and library search methods enables fast and reliable identification of dyes from different samples.

Graphical abstract: Statistical methods and library search approaches for fast and reliable identification of dyes using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)
Paper

Multivariate analysis of pyrolysis-GC/MS data for identification of polysaccharide binding media

The method of Thermally assisted Hydrolysis and Methylation (THM) was applied to the analysis of plant gums that can be found in artistic and archaeological objects.

Graphical abstract: Multivariate analysis of pyrolysis-GC/MS data for identification of polysaccharide binding media
Open Access Paper

‘It's not easy being green’: a spectroscopic study of green pigments used in illuminated manuscripts

Combining reflectance spectroscopy with an historic literature survey yields a contextualized study of green pigments used in medieval French illuminations.

Graphical abstract: ‘It's not easy being green’: a spectroscopic study of green pigments used in illuminated manuscripts
Paper

Characterization of blood in an encrustation on an African mask: spectroscopic and direct analysis in real time mass spectrometric identification of haem

DART-TOF-MS with in situ derivatisation provides rapid confirmation of the presence of blood in a museum object.

Graphical abstract: Characterization of blood in an encrustation on an African mask: spectroscopic and direct analysis in real time mass spectrometric identification of haem
Paper

Electrochemical SERS study on a copper electrode of the insoluble organic pigment quinacridone quinone using ionic liquids (BMIMCl and TBAN) as dispersing agents

Electrochemical SERS experiments of the insoluble pigment quinacridone quinone dispersed in ionic liquids (BMIMCl and TBAN) are reported.

Graphical abstract: Electrochemical SERS study on a copper electrode of the insoluble organic pigment quinacridone quinone using ionic liquids (BMIMCl and TBAN) as dispersing agents
Paper

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy studies of yellow organic dyestuffs and lake pigments in oil paint

Development of a SERS-based approach for the detection of various yellow dyestuffs, lake pigments, and oil paints.

Graphical abstract: Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy studies of yellow organic dyestuffs and lake pigments in oil paint
Paper

Alternative SERRS probes for the immunochemical localization of ovalbumin in paintings: an advanced mapping detection approach

The immuno-SERRS procedure combines the selective localization of ovalbumin with the simultaneous Raman mapping of different paint components.

Graphical abstract: Alternative SERRS probes for the immunochemical localization of ovalbumin in paintings: an advanced mapping detection approach
Paper

A multiscalar photoluminescence approach to discriminate among semiconducting historical zinc white pigments

In order to fully characterize the zinc white artists' semiconductor pigment (ZnO), much used since the mid-nineteenth century, three historical samples were studied using a combination of synchrotron and macroscopic photoluminescence spectroscopy and imaging to allow their differentiation.

Graphical abstract: A multiscalar photoluminescence approach to discriminate among semiconducting historical zinc white pigments
25 items

About this collection

This collection of papers across Analyst and Analytical Methods highlights cutting edge analytical research from academia, national laboratories and museums showing the most recent analytical breakthroughs in the field of cultural heritage. The articles describe those techniques recently employed to study art and cultural objects at the molecular level, characterising their structure, properties and chemistry. The themed issue is Guest Edited by Francesca Casadio and Richard P. Van Duyne. New articles will be added to this collection as they are published.

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