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Analysis of organic colouring and binding components in colour layer of art works

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Abstract

Two methods of analysis of organic components of colour layers of art works have been tested: IR microspectroscopy of indigo, Cu-phthalocyanine, and Prussian blue, and MALDI-TOF-MS of proteinaceous binders and a protein-containing red dye. The IR spectra distortion common for smooth outer surfaces and polished cross sections of colour layer of art works is suppressed by reflectance measurement of microtome slices. The detection limit of the three blue pigments examined is ~0.3 wt% in reference colour layers in linseed oil binder with calcite as extender and lead white as a drying agent. The sensitivity has been sufficient to identify Prussian blue in repaints on a Gothic painting. MALDI-TOF-MS has been used to identify proteinaceous binders in two historical paintings, namely isinglass (fish glue) and rabbit glue. MALDI-TOF-MS has also been proposed for identification of an insect red dye, cochineal carmine, according to its specific protein component. The enzymatic cleavage with trypsin before MALDI-TOF-MS seems to be a very gentle and specific way of dissolution of the colour layers highly polymerised due to very long aging of old, e.g. medieval, samples.

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Acknowledgements

The work was supported by Grant Agency of Czech Republic (project number 203/04/2091). We thank to restorers K. Stretti, D. Frank, and J. Hamsík (Academy of Fine Arts in Prague, Czech Republic) for providing samples, Tatyana Bayerova (University of Applied Arts, Vienna, Austria), for an inspiring discussion about IR spectroscopy in artwork analysis, and Ladislava Kratinova and Jindrich Martinek (First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic) for cutting thin layers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Analytical Chemistry, Charles University, 12840 Prague 2, Czech Republic

    S. Kuckova & I. Nemec

  2. Faculty of Food and Biochemical Technology, Institute of Chemical Technology, Technicka 3, 16628 Prague 6, Czech Republic

    S. Kuckova & R. Hynek

  3. Academy of Fine Arts in Prague, U Akademie 4, 17022 Prague 7, Czech Republic

    S. Kuckova & J. Hradilova

  4. Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, AS CR, 25068 Rez, Czech Republic

    S. Kuckova & T. Grygar

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  1. S. Kuckova
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  2. I. Nemec
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  4. J. Hradilova
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Correspondence to S. Kuckova.

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Kuckova, S., Nemec, I., Hynek, R. et al. Analysis of organic colouring and binding components in colour layer of art works. Anal Bioanal Chem 382, 275–282 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-005-3108-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-005-3108-5

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