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Micro-analytical Evidence of Copper-Based Pigment and Fungal Contamination of Medieval Mural Paintings in Beram, Croatia

Part of: Micrographia Collection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 September 2019

Tea Zubin Ferri ,
Emina Pustijanac ,
Ines Kovačić  and
Josipa Bilić
Tea Zubin Ferri*
Affiliation:
Materials’ Research Centre of the Istrian County – METRIS, Zagrebačka 30, 52100 Pula, Croatia
Emina Pustijanac
Affiliation:
Department for Natural and Health Sciences, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, Zagrebačka 30, 52100 Pula, Croatia
Ines Kovačić
Affiliation:
Department for Natural and Health Sciences, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, Zagrebačka 30, 52100 Pula, Croatia
Josipa Bilić
Affiliation:
Materials’ Research Centre of the Istrian County – METRIS, Zagrebačka 30, 52100 Pula, Croatia
*
*Author for correspondence: Tea Zubin Ferri, E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to map the painting materials, degradation processes, and biological features present on the mural painting in the church of St. Mary in Beram (Croatia) to study their possible interaction and produce information helping the preservation of this valuable painting. The research was conducted on micro samples of painting materials taken from different sites along the painting and the characterization of the present fungal species was carried out. The painting samples, together with observable patinas and degradation products, were studied by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS), Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopy, and powder X-ray diffraction. Fungal diversity was studied using cultivation methods followed by OM and SEM analyses in addition to molecular analysis. The results contribute to the characterization of the original painting materials, successively added materials and occurred interventions, to the understanding of degradation progressions and fungal biotransformation processes. A mineral, cumengite, a copper-based pigment extremely rarely used in art, was found. Its occurrence together with barium sulfate, gypsum, and calcium oxalate possibly produced by microbiological activity was studied and information was added regarding the composition of painting materials in St. Mary church mural cycle.

Keywords

cultural heritagedegradationbiodegradationinorganic pigmentsmicroanalysis
Type
Micrographia
Information
Microscopy and Microanalysis , Volume 25 , Issue 6 , December 2019 , pp. 1471 - 1481
Copyright
Copyright © Microscopy Society of America 2019 

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