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Nondestructive Raman investigation on wall paintings at Sala Vaccarini in Catania (Sicily)

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Abstract

In this work, the results of a Raman campaign for studying seventeenth-century Sicilian frescoes, by using two portable Raman systems, equipped with different excitation sources (785 and 1064 nm), are proposed. The measurements were performed with the aim to provide an in situ diagnostic analysis of the wall paintings (in terms of colorants and preparation layer) and to support the conservators in the framework of the ongoing restoration. The combined use of the two Raman spectrometers has given a complete overview on the artist palette and on the state of preservation of frescoes, also informing us about the technique employed by the painter. Natural pigments as hematite, vermillion, goethite, lead red, lead white and carbon-based black pigments have been identified. Additionally, the application of a transitional Romanesque–Renaissance frescoes method has been noticed by the systematic combined presence of calcite and gypsum in the substrate. Finally, the analyses have highlighted the presence of degradation products, mainly related to alteration of lead-based pigments.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are very grateful to the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage of Catania for having allowing and supporting the measurement campaign carried out in April 2014 during the restoration works at Sala Vaccarini in Catania. The authors thank Ghent University for its financial support through the concerted research actions (GOA) program.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological, Geological and Environment Sciences, University of Catania, Corso Italia, 57, 95129, Catania, Italy

    Germana Barone, Paolo Mazzoleni & Simona Raneri

  2. Physics and Earth Science Department, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze, 7/a, 43124, Parma, Italy

    Danilo Bersani

  3. Department of Archaeology, Ghent University, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 35, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Alessia Coccato & Peter Vandenabeele

  4. Department of Analytical Chemistry, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Debbie Lauwers

  5. MadatecS.r.l., Via Montegrappa, 18, 20060, Pessano Con Bornago, Milano, Italy

    Davide Manzini

  6. Superintendence of Cultural Heritage of Catania, Via Luigi Sturzo, 62, 95100, Catania, Italy

    Giuseppe Agostino & Nicola Francesco Neri

Authors
  1. Germana Barone
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  2. Danilo Bersani
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  3. Alessia Coccato
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  4. Debbie Lauwers
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  5. Paolo Mazzoleni
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  6. Simona Raneri
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  7. Peter Vandenabeele
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  8. Davide Manzini
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  9. Giuseppe Agostino
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  10. Nicola Francesco Neri
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Correspondence to Germana Barone.

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Barone, G., Bersani, D., Coccato, A. et al. Nondestructive Raman investigation on wall paintings at Sala Vaccarini in Catania (Sicily). Appl. Phys. A 122, 838 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-016-0370-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-016-0370-7

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