Non-invasive pigment identification of post-Byzantine wall paintings from 11th century Monastery of Daphne in Athens (Greece)

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Published: Jun 17, 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/monubasin.8349
Keywords:
non-invasive techniques XRF FT-IR Multispectral imaging Digital microscopy post-Byzantine wall paintings pigments painting technique
Vasiliki Dritsa
Alexandros Stouraitis
Ekaterini Ftikou
Maria Koui
Abstract

This work is the first systematic research study to acquire information on the pigments and the painting technique and assess the conservation status of the post-Byzantine wall paintings in the Byzantine Monastery of Daphne (Attica, Greece). A combined non-invasive methodology including Portable X-Ray fluorescence (XRF), portable Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), multi-spectral imaging (MI) and digital microscopy (DM) was employed in situ. The identification of pigments hematite, goethite, green earths, carbon black, calcite, massicot and the creation of the wall paintings by different artists in different time periods were confirmed. MI and DM images gave useful insight into the conservation status of the wall paintings, revealing surface ware with microcracking, loss of color and original material as well as parts of the underdrawing of the painting.

Article Details
  • Section
  • Part IV - Methodologies for Characterization and Damage Assessment

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Author Biographies
Vasiliki Dritsa

School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Zografou, Greece

Alexandros Stouraitis

School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Zografou, Greece

Ekaterini Ftikou

Directorate of Conservation of Ancient and Modern Monuments Athens, Ministry of Culture

Maria Koui

School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Zografou, Greece

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