Caput mortuum: spectroscopic and structural studies of an ancient pigment.
The use of a pigment variously described as caput mortuum, usta or ostrum to provide a deep purple colour in ancient wall-paintings was highly prized, despite the technical difficulties associated with its application. With the Raman spectroscopic characterization of pigments in ancient frescoes and wall-paintings becoming more widespread, it is timely to consider the identification of this material either as a generic haematite alone or in admixture with contemporary blue pigments. Here, Raman and infrared spectroscopic, X-ray diffractometric and scanning electron microscopic structural studies have been undertaken to characterize caput mortuum and to identify a specimen of Roman wall-painting dating from the 3rd century.
de Oliveira
Luiz F C
LF
Department of Chemical and Forensic Sciences, University of Bradford, UK.
Edwards
Howell G M
HG
Frost
Ray L
RL
Kloprogge
J Theo
JT
Middleton
Paul S
PS