Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The de Brécy Madonna and Child tondo painting: a Raman spectroscopic analysis

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Raman spectra have been obtained from a Madonna and Child tondo painting, known as the de Brécy Tondo. Despite the provision of only a small number of microscopic samples, definitive spectra were obtained from mineral pigments. From one specimen, spectra of an organic binder enabled the consideration of several possibilities to be accomplished and a suggestion proposed for the medium. In another specimen the identification of the spectral signatures of Prussian blue, which was only synthesised some 200 years after the predicated date of execution of the painting, indicated that some unrecorded restoration had been undertaken later in the painting’s history. Research* carried out on this tondo from 1987 to 1991 indicated the probability that it is the work of Raphael, a conclusion supported by further research recently undertaken on the provenance. The stylistic similarity of the tondo to Raphael’s Sistine Madonna is very clear; the pigments identified in this analysis are consistent with a Renaissance attribution for the de Brécy Tondo.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Smith GD, Clark RJH (2004) J Arch Sci 31:1137–1160

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Ciliberto E (2000) In: Spoto G (ed) Modern analytical methods in art and archaeology. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  3. Edwards HGM (1999) IR and Raman spectroscopy of art. In: Lindon JC, Tranter GE, Holmes JL (eds) Encyclopedia of spectrometry and spectroscopy. Academic Press, London, pp 2–17

    Google Scholar 

  4. Edwards HGM, Chalmers JM (eds) (2005) Raman spectroscopy in archaeology and art history. Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  5. Clark RJH (1995) J Mol Struct 347:417–428

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Brown KL, Clark RJH (2004) J Raman Spectrosc 35:181–189

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Brown KL, Clark RJH (2004) J Raman Spectrosc 35:217–223

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Bikiaris D, Sister Daniilia, Sotiropoulu S, Katsimbiri O, Pavlidou E, Moutsatsou AP, Chryssoulakis Y (1999) Spectrochim Acta Part A 56:3–18

    Google Scholar 

  9. Edwards HGM (2002) Spectroscopy 17:16–40

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Smith DC, Barbet A (1999) J Raman Spectrosc 30:319–324

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Edwards HGM, Farwell DW, Newton EM, Rull Perez F, Jorge Villar SE (2000) J Raman Spectrosc 31:407–413

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Edwards HGM, Dixon EL, Scowen IJ, Rull Perez F (2003) Spectrochim Acta Part A 59:2291–2299

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Sister Daniilia, Bikiaris D, Burgio L, Gavala P, Clark RJH, Chryssoulakis Y (2002) J Raman Spectrosc 33:807–814

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Sister Daniilia, Sotiropolou S, Bikiaris D, Salpistis CH, Karagiannis G, Chryssoulakis Y, Price BA, Carlson JH (2000) J Cultural Heritage 1:91–99

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Vandenabeele P, Verpoort F, Moens L (2001) J Raman Spectrosc 32:263–269

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Vandenabeele P, Weis TL, Grant ER, Moens L (2001) Anal Bioanal Chem 379:137–142

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Trentelman K, Havlik C (2005) Proc 6th Infrared and Raman Users Group Conference (IRUG 6), Florence Picollo M (ed) Istituto di Fisica Applicada “Nello Carrara”, IFAC-CNR, Florence, Italy, pp 94–100

  18. Smith DC (1999) Mineralogical Soc Bull 25:3–8

    Google Scholar 

  19. Smith DC (2005) Jewellery and precious stones. In: Edwards HGM, Chalmers JM (eds) Raman spectroscopy in archaeology and art history, Chap 21. Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, pp 335–378

    Google Scholar 

  20. Gettens RJ, Stout GL (1966) Painting materials: a short encyclopaedia. Dover, New York

    Google Scholar 

  21. Wright MH, Townsen JH (eds) (1995) Resins: ancient and modern. Scottish Soc Conservation and Restoration, Edinburgh

    Google Scholar 

  22. Kok A (1966) Lichenologist 3:248–272

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Vitruvius, De Architectura, trans Granger F (1934) Harvard University Press, London, William Heinemann and Cambridge, Mass

  24. Pliny the Elder, Naturalis Historiae, trans Rackham H (1938–1984) Harvard University Press, London, William Heinemann and Cambridge, Mass

  25. Smith GD, Clark RJH (2002) J Cultural Heritage 3:101–105

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Bell IM, Clark RJH, Gibbs PJ (1997) Spectrochim Acta Part A 53:2159–2179

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Bouchard M, Smith DC (2005) Database of 74 Raman spectra of standard minerals of relevance to metal corrosion, stained glass or prehistoric rock art. In: Edwards HGM, Chalmers JM (eds) Raman spectroscopy in archaeology and art history, Chap 25. Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, pp 429–461

    Google Scholar 

  28. Feller RL (1986) Barium sulfate—natural and synthetic. In: Artists’ pigments: a handbook of their history and characteristics, vol 1. Oxford University Press, New York, pp 47–64; Gettens RJ, Kuhn H, Chase WT (1997) Lead white. In: Roy A (ed), ibid, vol 2. National Gallery of Art, Washington/Oxford University Press, pp 67–82

  29. Bland H, private communication

  30. Wouters J, private communication

  31. Issa RM, Abu El-Waffa SM (1984) J Chinese Chem Soc 31:41–48

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Schweppe H (1993) Handbuch der Naturfarbstoffe Vorkommen-Verwendung Nachweis, Lansberg/Lech :Ecomed, pp 517–534

  33. Benoy TJ (2003) The illuminator’s art; Turnsole and Raphael, private circulation to art historians and museum curators

  34. Friedman JB (1995) Northern english books, owners and makers in the late middle ages. Syracuse University Press, New York, USA, pp 228–231

    Google Scholar 

  35. Thompson DV (1936) Materials of mediaeval painting. George Allen and Unwin, London, pp 138–139

    Google Scholar 

  36. Edwards HGM, Falk, MJ (1997) Spectrochim Acta Part A 53:2685–2694

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Edwards HGM, Falk MJ (1997) Spectrochim Acta Part A 53:2393–2401

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Edwards HGM, Falk MJ, Sibley MG, Alvarez-Benedi J, Rull F (1998) Spectrochim Acta Part A 54:903–920

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Robiquet H (1829) Ann Chim Phys 42:236–257

    Google Scholar 

  40. Robiquet H (1835) Ann Chim Phys 48:320–335

    Google Scholar 

  41. Musso H (1955) Naturwissenschaften 42:513

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Musso H (1956) Chem Berichte 89:1659–1673

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Musso H, Beecker H (1957) Chem Berichte 90:1808–1814

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Musso H, Mattheis H-G, Beecker H, Kramer H (1957) Angewandte Chemie 69:178

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Musso H (1960) Planta Medica 8:431–446

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Musso H, Beecker H (1961) Chem Berichte 94:585–600

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Musso H, Mannsfeld S-P (1961) Chem Berichte 94:2585–2589

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Musso H, Beecker H (1957) Chem Berichte 90:2190–2194

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Musso H, Kramer H (1958) Chem Berichte 91:2001–2016

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Musso H, Matthies H-G (1957) Chem Berichte 90:1814–1827

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Wallert A, Private communication to the de Brecy Trust

  52. Edwards HGM, Wynn-Williams DD, Newton EM, Coombes SJ (2003) J Mol Struct 648:49–59

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Edwards HGM, Newton EM, Wynn-Williams DD (2003) J Mol Struct 651–653:27–37

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgement

We thank the de Brécy Trust for making available the three samples from the tondo for Raman spectroscopic analysis and the results from other analytical laboratories relating to the elemental composition of the pigments and substrate.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Molecular Spectroscopy Group, University Analytical Centre & Chemical and Forensic Sciences, University of Bradford, Norcroft Building, Bradford, BD7 1DP, UK

    Howell G. M. Edwards

  2. The de Brécy Trust, de Brécy House, Lower Withington, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 9DF, UK

    Timothy J. Benoy

Authors
  1. Howell G. M. Edwards
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Timothy J. Benoy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Howell G. M. Edwards.

Additional information

*Dr Murdoch Lothian, The Methods Employed to Provenance and to Attribute Putative Works by Raphael, Ph.D. Thesis, 1991.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Edwards, H.G.M., Benoy, T.J. The de Brécy Madonna and Child tondo painting: a Raman spectroscopic analysis. Anal Bioanal Chem 387, 837–846 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-006-0646-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-006-0646-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation