Analysis of pigments from Roman wall paintings found in the "agro centuriato" of Julia Concordia (Italy)

Ann Chim. 2007 Sep;97(9):905-13. doi: 10.1002/adic.200790075.

Abstract

The analysis of wall painting fragments recovered in the "agro centuriato" of Julia Concordia has been carried out by using Scanning Electron Microscopy equipped with an EDS microanalysis detector (SEM-EDS), Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-Ray powder Diffraction (XRD). The pigments used have been identified and the data obtained suggest the presence of three rustic villas richly decorated also with Egyptian blue. The presence of white of aragonite suggest that these villas were decorated during the Imperial Age, in agreement with the recovery of high quality materials and a bronze statue.

MeSH terms

  • Coloring Agents / analysis*
  • Italy
  • Paintings*
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Coloring Agents