TABLE OF CONTENTS One of the first applications of Raman spectroscopy in the field of art and archaeology consisted of the identification of mineral pigments in historical artefacts, such as mediaeval manuscripts. In several cases, manuscripts [1] [2] [3] or loose leaves-were positioned under a confocal Raman microscope and spectra were recorded. Inorganic pigments, in general being good Raman scatterers, were identified by comparison with previously recorded reference spectra.
Paint is the recurring subject of many Raman investigations in the field of art analysis [4] [5] [6] and consists of three major compounds: the colourant, the binding medium and the solvent. [7] In dry paint samples, the solvent has evaporated and cannot be retrieved by means of Raman spectroscopy. The binding medium is responsible for the adhesion of the colourant onto the support. Binders are either natural or synthetic and transform the paint into...
