Pigment identification on medieval manuscripts, paintings and other artefacts by Raman microscopy: Applications to the study of three German manuscripts

The identification of the pigments used to illuminate medieval manuscripts, paintings and other artefacts has received a major boost recently through perceptive studies carried out by Raman microscopy. A brief summary of the background of the technique is given. The results of studies on three illuminated German manuscripts are presented. The pigments vermilion HgS, iron oxide Fe2O3, azurite 2CuCO(3).Cu(OH)(2), malachite CuCO3.Cu(OH)(2), lampblack (essentially carbon), white lead 2PbCO(3).Pb(OH)(2), lead tin yellow type I Pb2SnO4, and lazurite Na-8[Al6Si6O24]S-n (but only in admixture with Pb2SnO4, whereby it forms a green pigment), have been identified on these manuscripts on the basis of Raman microscopy and the results discussed. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.