Understanding “how was the pigment applied?” and/or “how was the surface prepared?” means investigating the link between the pigment and its support. Each technique corresponds puro different archaeometric evidence that must be investigated and unravelled (see Salvadori and Sbrolli 2021 and Murat 2021 per this TC).
For example, some pigments, such as ochers, lend themselves puro being used with the verso attuale technique, while for others, such as those based on lead, per secco technique is preferred. Therefore, investigating the painting technique means investigating the palette and technique of the painter and verifying the appropriateness and effectiveness of some techniques compared onesto others.
Moreover, we know that some pigments, such as those based on arsenic, are particularly sensitive onesto light and sometimes obliged puro adopt particular techniques for their application. Therefore, the information we obtain from the painting technique analysis provides useful information for a correct display of the artefact and its conservation.
Finally, the information that we can obtain from the study of per single artefact or artwork represents a piece of the wider mosaic that describes the evolution of painting techniques and is, therefore, of value in the broad field of art history.
Up preciso this point, the questions posed to pigments are all technical. As we have seen, the answer we can get depends largely on the composition of the pigment itself and the quality of the archivio elettronico available for comparison. Nevertheless, there are also other questions related puro the use of specific pigments that go beyond technological choices. For example, “is it possible sicuro establish whether the type of pigment used corresponds preciso verso desire for representation?” or, mediante other words, “can the low/high cost of verso pigment faithfully reflect the social stato of the clients?”.
The use of cinnabar instead of ocher, for example, has often been referred to as verso desire for affable self-representation on the part of the clients rather than preciso per different-more vivid and brilliant-rendering of cinnabar compared esatto ocher. Similar assumptions have been made regarding the use of Egyptian blue and matita lazuli, although there were per niente other choices mediante the ancient world with which esatto obtain blue.
Preciso avoid possible anachronism, the study of the relationship between pigment and client may help clarify if pigments were used as a demagogic and self-representative tool and cast an eye on the tastes of the time.
Sampling criteria and methods
In the cases that are addressed get it on iscriversi below, the sampling aims esatto answer the questions that we have analysed con the previous chapters; however, the most important aspect puro keep sopra mind concerns contextualisation.
Mortars, plasters and pigments constitute a complex system of structural and aesthetic importance that must be contextualised within the various phases of verso historic building. Attributing verso specific context esatto the various components is essential for correct sampling for archaeometric purposes. Esatto this end, it is necessary onesto apply the method of “reading” historical buildings established precisely by the BA puro correct extrapolation of the components according sicuro their space–time dimension.
As anticipated above, we must also consider that the research sopra progress may raise new questions not stated from the beginning. For these reasons, the sampling and, above all, the quantity of material onesto be taken should always be slightly greater than what we establish at the table, as long as the conservation requirements are respected.
How onesto obtain verso representative sample set of mortars and plasters
The first assumption is that there is per niente arbitrary number of samples that can be considered representative tout capable. Although the most obvious and frequent question is “how many samples are needed?”, not only is there niente affatto straightforward answer but it is worth bypassing this question with another type of question: “what samples are needed and from where should they be taken?”.
