Multi-technique analysis of pigments on sandstone sculptures: Renaissance re-painting of a Roman relief
Abstract The Antonine Wall was commissioned by the Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius around 142 CE and stretches for c. 60 km across the central belt of Scotland, marking the Empire’s most north-western frontier. This vanguard research reports on the materials referred to by Antiquarian sources as having...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SpringerOpen
2022-10-01
|
| Series: | Heritage Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-022-00790-7 |
| _version_ | 1811226713976209408 |
|---|---|
| author | Louisa Campbell Margaret Smith |
| author_facet | Louisa Campbell Margaret Smith |
| author_sort | Louisa Campbell |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The Antonine Wall was commissioned by the Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius around 142 CE and stretches for c. 60 km across the central belt of Scotland, marking the Empire’s most north-western frontier. This vanguard research reports on the materials referred to by Antiquarian sources as having been applied during the sixteenth century for the redecoration of an iconic Distance Sculpture that was once embedded into the mural barrier. Portable non-invasive technologies, including pXRF and in-situ microphotography were deployed. These techniques were further supplemented by micro-sampling for SEM/EDS, FTIR–ATR and microscopy of embedded cross-sections. The validity of applying these complementary techniques has been confirmed. They provide a comprehensive account of the polychromy present, including pigments that could have been applied during the Roman period and others that were only available from the fifteenth or sixteenth Centuries. The work has confirmed stratigraphic sequencing of the pigments which will, in due course, permit the digital reconstruction of how this Classical relief sculpture would have been adorned during the Renaissance. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T09:30:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-211681b7901e46b888caa6f411d091ca |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-7445 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T09:30:59Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heritage Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-211681b7901e46b888caa6f411d091ca2022-12-22T03:38:22ZengSpringerOpenHeritage Science2050-74452022-10-0110112710.1186/s40494-022-00790-7Multi-technique analysis of pigments on sandstone sculptures: Renaissance re-painting of a Roman reliefLouisa Campbell0Margaret Smith1Lord Kelvin Adam Smith Leadership Fellow in Archaeology, University of GlasgowAffiliate Researcher at the Kelvin Centre for Conservation and Cultural Heritage Research, University of GlasgowAbstract The Antonine Wall was commissioned by the Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius around 142 CE and stretches for c. 60 km across the central belt of Scotland, marking the Empire’s most north-western frontier. This vanguard research reports on the materials referred to by Antiquarian sources as having been applied during the sixteenth century for the redecoration of an iconic Distance Sculpture that was once embedded into the mural barrier. Portable non-invasive technologies, including pXRF and in-situ microphotography were deployed. These techniques were further supplemented by micro-sampling for SEM/EDS, FTIR–ATR and microscopy of embedded cross-sections. The validity of applying these complementary techniques has been confirmed. They provide a comprehensive account of the polychromy present, including pigments that could have been applied during the Roman period and others that were only available from the fifteenth or sixteenth Centuries. The work has confirmed stratigraphic sequencing of the pigments which will, in due course, permit the digital reconstruction of how this Classical relief sculpture would have been adorned during the Renaissance.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-022-00790-7Roman sculptureSandstone sculpturePolychromyMicroscopyMicrophotographypXRF |
| spellingShingle | Louisa Campbell Margaret Smith Multi-technique analysis of pigments on sandstone sculptures: Renaissance re-painting of a Roman relief Heritage Science Roman sculpture Sandstone sculpture Polychromy Microscopy Microphotography pXRF |
| title | Multi-technique analysis of pigments on sandstone sculptures: Renaissance re-painting of a Roman relief |
| title_full | Multi-technique analysis of pigments on sandstone sculptures: Renaissance re-painting of a Roman relief |
| title_fullStr | Multi-technique analysis of pigments on sandstone sculptures: Renaissance re-painting of a Roman relief |
| title_full_unstemmed | Multi-technique analysis of pigments on sandstone sculptures: Renaissance re-painting of a Roman relief |
| title_short | Multi-technique analysis of pigments on sandstone sculptures: Renaissance re-painting of a Roman relief |
| title_sort | multi technique analysis of pigments on sandstone sculptures renaissance re painting of a roman relief |
| topic | Roman sculpture Sandstone sculpture Polychromy Microscopy Microphotography pXRF |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-022-00790-7 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT louisacampbell multitechniqueanalysisofpigmentsonsandstonesculpturesrenaissancerepaintingofaromanrelief AT margaretsmith multitechniqueanalysisofpigmentsonsandstonesculpturesrenaissancerepaintingofaromanrelief |