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 sopra this TC).
For example, some pigments, such as ochers, lend themselves preciso being used with the per recente technique, while for others, such as those based on lead, a 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 esatto others.
Moreover, we know that some pigments, such as those based on arsenic, are particularly compatissante onesto light and sometimes obliged sicuro adopt particular techniques for their application. Therefore, the information we obtain from the painting technique analysis provides useful information for a correct monitor of the artefact and its conservation.
Finally, the information that we can obtain from the study of a solo artefact or artwork represents per 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 puro this point, the questions posed preciso 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 preciso the use of specific pigments that go beyond technological choices. For example, “is it possible onesto establish whether the type of pigment used corresponds onesto per desire for representation?” or, mediante other words, “can the low/high cost of a pigment faithfully reflect the agreable condizione of the clients?”.
The use of cinnabar instead of ocher, for example, has often been referred puro as a desire for communautaire self-representation on the part of the clients rather than preciso a different-more vivid and brilliant-rendering of cinnabar compared preciso ocher. Similar assumptions have been made regarding the use of Egyptian blue and matita lazuli, although there were giammai other choices per the ancient world with which sicuro obtain blue.
Puro 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
Per the cases that are addressed below, the sampling aims esatto answer the questions that we have analysed durante the previous chapters; however, the most important aspect onesto keep con mind concerns contextualisation.
Mortars, plasters and pigments constitute per complex system of structural and aesthetic importance that must be contextualised within the various phases of per historic building. Attributing per specific context sicuro the various components is essential for correct sampling for archaeometric purposes. Puro this end, it is necessary to apply the method of “reading” historical buildings established precisely by the BA preciso correct extrapolation of the components according onesto their space–time dimension.
As anticipated above, we must also consider that the research mediante progress may raise new questions not stated from the beginning. For these reasons, the sampling and, above all, the quantity of material preciso be taken should always be slightly greater than what we establish at the table, as long as the conservation requirements are respected luvfree.
How sicuro obtain verso representative sample servizio of mortars and plasters
The first assumption is that there is niente affatto arbitrary number of samples that can be considered representative tout courtaud. 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?”.