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Study of Complex Organic Binding Media Systems on Artworks Applying GC‐MS Analysis: Selected Examples from the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna
Author(s) -
Pitthard Vaclav,
Griesser Martina,
Stanek Sabine,
Bayerova Tatjana
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
macromolecular symposia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.257
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1521-3900
pISSN - 1022-1360
DOI - 10.1002/masy.200650606
Subject(s) - terracotta , painting , art , varnish , statue , visual arts , conservation , wax , art history , archaeology , chemistry , geography , organic chemistry , environmental planning , coating
Within the Kunsthistorisches Museum (KHM), Vienna, three off‐line GC‐MS analytical procedures for the identification of natural organic media have been refined, tested, and validated for the use in investigating original, historic works of art. The analysis of a sample from a Greek terracotta statue suggested that the white ground layer of the polychromy, still partly present today, contained a gum‐based binding medium. Furthermore, a procedure for the simultaneous analysis of oils, waxes and resins was applied to the identification of the composition of the varnish layer from the 16 th century painting “Lucretia” by Jacopo Negretti (1480–1528). In addition, in a collaboration with the Department for Conservation and Restoration, University of Applied Arts, Vienna, a series of samples from paintings on wooden panels from the Buddhist temple complex in Nako, Himachal Pradesh, India, was investigated for the presence of proteinaceous binding media.