Showing papers in "Chemical Society Reviews in 1995"

Raman microscopy: application to the identification of pigments on medieval manuscripts

Abstract: A brief, general review of the title subject, with examples. The purposes of pigment identification in this field are summarized and many inorganic and organic colorants (by no means all Medieval) are listed in the tables. Raman microscopy is described briefly. The technique, which is nonsampling, produces a Raman (i.e., vibrational) spectrum from a spot of diameter approximately 0. 5-1.0 mum on the actual work. It does not usually work well with organic compounds, and the examples cited, from five illuminated manuscripts of 13th- to 16th-century Europe, are all inorganic pigments. Lapis lazuli, cadmium sulfide, and lead tin yellow are discussed in detail. The following were identified on the works: lapis lazuli, malachite, azurite, vermilion, lead white, red lead, massicot, lead tin yellow, orpiment, realgar, bone white, verdigris.