AnalYtical Study Of The XiV century wall painting and lime mortars in the "St. George" church in Staro Nagoricane, republic of Macedonia

Abstract

This work presents the first comprehensive study of the wall painting in the "St. George" church accomplished mainly by means of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy using Diffuse Reflectance and Micro-Infrared method (FTIR/DRS/Micro-IR) and the other analytical techniques Optical microscopy (OM), X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Inductively Coupled Plasma - Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The main research objective was characterization of the artistic palette and painting technique, but also determination of the degradation products and observed alterations to the wall painting. Additionally, the lime mortars (plaster and renders) located immediately behind the studied wall painting were analyzed. The analysis demonstrated that mainly natural/mineral pigments were used in the artwork and the majority of painting was executed in combination of fresco and lime-painting technique. The major risk factor in the painting deterioration was found to be the salt efflorescence, which mostly occurred as oxalates and sulfates.