Investigation on Painting Materials in “Madonna col Bambino e S. Giovannino” by Botticelli

Abstract

A study on the painting materials (pigments and binders) of the tempera on panel painting Madonna and Child with the Infant St. John by Sandro Botticelli, ca. 1480, in the Museo Civico of Piacenza (Italy), was performed before a recent restoration. The painting materials were investigated by the analysis of 5 mm samples taken in damaged areas. The pigments were determined using micro-Raman spectroscopy, with the 632.8 nm line of a He-Ne laser. Despite the strong fluorescence background, the nature of the tondo's ground layer (gypsum and anhydrite) and of most pigments (i.e., goethite, lapis lazuli, white lead) was determined. Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) was used to determine the organic binder media and, in particular, proteinaceous and lipid materials. Egg and animal glue were found, while no siccative oils were detected.