Spectroscopic investigation of two Serbian icons painted on canvas

Abstract

Multianalytical study of two Serbian icons, “The Virgin and Child” and “St. Petka”, painted on canvas by unknown authors was performed in order to identify materials used as pigments, binders and ground layer. Investigated icons belong to the Museum of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Belgrade. Samples, collected from different parts of the icons, were analysed by: optical microscopy (OM), energy dispersive X-Ray fluorescence (EDXRF), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and micro-Raman spectroscopy. Obtained results reveal presence of the following pigments: Prussian blue, ultramarine, green earth, iron oxides, lead white and zinc white. Linseed oil was used as a binder. Materials used for ground layers were gypsum, calcite, baryte and lead white. Gilded surface of the icon “The Virgin and Child” was made of gold. Gilded surface on the frame of this icon was made of imitation of gold i.e. Schlagmetal, since EDXRF spectroscopy showed presence of copper and zinc, while gold was not detected. Based on style and art historian consideration as well as on obtained results for corresponding pigments and binder both icons were the most probably made at the end of 19th or beginning of the 20th century. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 177021]

Keywords

• pigments
• EDXR
• FTIR spectroscop
• Micro-Raman spectroscopy