title: Quantitative determination of un-derivatised amino acids in artistic mural paintings using high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization triple quadrupole mass spectrometry.
abstract: The tempera painting technique is one of the most common methods used throughout art history. Tempera is defined by the type of binders used and in this work we study protein-based temperas. Proteinaceous binders can be characterized by the chromatographic determination of the amino acids present where techniques are either based on gas chromatography or high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to mass spectrometry. The objective of this work was to develop a derivatisation-free HPLC method with triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometric detection (HPLC/ESI-MS/MS) of 21 amino acids contained in the protein-based binders of tempera paints. The analytical method identifies the painting techniques of two contemporary artists: Sironi and DeLuigi. The sample data are compared to painting material standards. The results show that the samples from works by DeLuigi contain mainly animal glue binders, while the samples from Sironi paintings contain binders that are an amino acid mixture with an overall composition between that of eggs and casein.
authors: Institute for the Dynamics of Environmental Processes-CNR, 30123 Venice, Italy.
authors: Roberta
authors: R
authors: Zangrando
authors: Rossano
authors: R
authors: Piazza
authors: Warren R L
authors: WR
authors: Cairns
authors: Francesca C
authors: FC
authors: Izzo
authors: Alvise
authors: A
authors: Vianello
authors: Elisabetta
authors: E
authors: Zendri
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Gambaro
mesh_terms: D000269:Adhesives / Q000737:chemistry; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D002364:Caseins / Q000737:chemistry; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004531:Eggs / Q000032:analysis; D010151:Paintings; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000269:Adhesives; D000596:Amino Acids; D002364:Caseins