ISSN:
1434-1948
Keywords:
Manuscripts
;
Scriptoria
;
TXRF
;
Micro-Raman spectroscopy
;
Pigments
;
Middle ages
;
Azurite
;
Gold initials
;
Workshops
;
Renaissance
;
Mercatellis
;
Codicology
;
Chemistry
;
General Chemistry
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
Notes:
Assigning related medieval manuscripts to different workshops on the basis of codicological characteristics, is not straightforward. We present the first attempt to distinguish between scriptoria by means of a large-scale total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) analysis of pigment elements and an identification of pigment molecules with micro-Raman spectroscopy. We analyzed 324 colored items in 10 medieval manuscripts, of which 7 are folio-sized illuminated manuscripts, all ordered by Raphael de Mercatellis in the late 15th and early 16th century. Palettes in miniatures were not yet examined. Blue palettes are exclusively azurite-based and are easily differentiated by means of the respective amounts of Ti, Ba, and As. Differences for green palettes are also pronounced. The green Cu-based pigment was not yet identified, but it certainly is not malachite or verdigris. Red pigments used are HgS, vermilion, and Pb3O4, red lead. The Flemish gold-leaf technique is used. The 7 Mercatellis manuscripts show two different palettes, both different from the non-Mercatellis manuscripts. The grouping of the Mercatellis manuscripts according to date and to palettes is, in general, consistent with a grouping on the basis of a classical codicological analysis, although some conflicting results are obtained. A quantitative and qualitative reconstruction of palettes by means of TXRF- and Raman-spectra, provides with a complimentary and objective tool for distinguishing between scriptoria.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
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