title: Multianalytical approach to the analysis of English polychromed alabaster sculptures: muRaman, muEDXRF, and FTIR spectroscopies.
abstract: A complete study of several English polychromed alabaster sculptures is presented. The support, pigment, and binders were characterised by combining muEDXRF, muRaman, and FTIR spectroscopies. Among the pigments, minium, vermilion, lead white, carbon black, red iron oxide, and a degraded green copper pigment were determined, together with gold leaf. The presence of the rare mineral moolooite (copper oxalate) was also found as a degradation product in the green areas, where weddellite (calcium oxalate dihydrate) was also determined. These facts, together with degradation of the green copper pigment, suggest microbiological degradation of the original materials. Remains of glue and a varnish were also determined by FTIR spectroscopy and principal-components analysis (PCA) of the spectra. Finally, PCA analysis was carried out to confirm whether the pieces came from the same quarry.
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of the Basque Country, P.O. Box. 644, 48080, Bilbao, Spain. kepa.castro@ehu.es
authors.forename: Kepa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sarmiento
authors.forename: Maite
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maguregui
authors.forename: Irantzu
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Martínez-Arkarazo
authors.forename: Nestor
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Etxebarria
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Angulo
authors.forename: María Urrutikoetxea
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Barrutia
authors.forename: Juan Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: González-Cembellín
authors.forename: Juan Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Madariaga