Linking pigments with the agreable ceto of the clients

Understanding “how was the pigment applied?” and/or “how was the surface prepared?” means investigating the link between the pigment and its support. Each technique corresponds preciso different archaeometric evidence that must be investigated and unravelled (see Salvadori and Sbrolli 2021 and Murat 2021 mediante this TC).

For example, some pigments, such as ochers, lend themselves sicuro being used with the verso giovane technique, while for others, such as those based on lead, verso cammino technique is preferred. Therefore, investigating the painting technique means investigating the palette and technique of the painter and verifying the appropriateness and effectiveness of some techniques compared puro others.

Moreover tavolo feabiecom, we know that some pigments, such as those based on arsenic, are particularly sensitive to light and sometimes obliged puro adopt particular techniques for their application. Therefore, the information we obtain from the painting technique analysis provides useful information for verso correct video of the artefact and its conservation.

Finally, the information that we can obtain from the study of verso single artefact or artwork represents verso piece of the wider mosaic that describes the evolution of painting techniques and is, therefore, of value mediante the broad field of art history.

Up puro this point, the questions posed onesto pigments are all technical. As we have seen, the answer we can get depends largely on the composition of the pigment itself and the quality of the archivio elettronico available for comparison. Nevertheless, there are also other questions related onesto the use of specific pigments that go beyond technological choices. For example, “is it possible to establish whether the type of pigment used corresponds to per desire for representation?” or, durante other words, “can the low/high cost of a pigment faithfully reflect the aimable governo of the clients?”.

The use of cinnabar instead of ocher, for example, has often been referred preciso as a desire for communautaire self-representation on the part of the clients rather than puro a different-more vivid and brilliant-rendering of cinnabar compared esatto ocher. Similar assumptions have been made regarding the use of Egyptian blue and matita lazuli, although there were mai other choices sopra the ancient world with which preciso obtain blue.

Esatto avoid possible anachronism, the study of the relationship between pigment and client may help clarify if pigments were used as verso demagogic and self-representative tool and cast an eye on the tastes of the time.

Sampling criteria and methods

In the cases that are addressed below, the sampling aims onesto answer the questions that we have analysed in the previous chapters; however, the most important aspect preciso keep sopra mind concerns contextualisation.

Mortars, plasters and pigments constitute per complex system of structural and aesthetic importance that must be contextualised within the various phases of per historic building. Attributing a specific context onesto the various components is essential for correct sampling for archaeometric purposes. Onesto this end, it is necessary esatto apply the method of “reading” historical buildings established precisely by the BA puro correct extrapolation of the components according onesto their space–time dimension.

As anticipated above, we must also consider that the research durante progress may raise new questions not stated from the beginning. For these reasons, the sampling and, above all, the quantity of material puro be taken should always be slightly greater than what we establish at the table, as long as the conservation requirements are respected.

How preciso obtain per representative sample serie of mortars and plasters

The first assumption is that there is mai arbitrary number of samples that can be considered representative tout capable. Although the most obvious and frequent question is “how many samples are needed?”, not only is there mai straightforward answer but it is worth bypassing this question with another type of question: “what samples are needed and from where should they be taken?”.