title: Spectroscopic characterization of sixteenth century panel painting references using Raman, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy and helium-Raman system for in situ analysis of Ibero-American Colonial paintings.
abstract: Colonial panel paintings constitute an essential part of Latin-American cultural heritage. Their study is vital for understanding the manufacturing process, including its evolution in history, as well as its authorship, dating and other information significant to art history and conservation purposes. Raman spectroscopy supplies a non-destructive characterization tool, which can be implemented for in situ analysis, via portable equipment. Specific methodologies must be developed, comprising the elaboration of reference panel paintings using techniques and materials similar to those of the analysed period, as well as the determination of the best analysis conditions for different pigments and ground preparations. In order to do so, Raman spectroscopy at 532, 785 and 1064 nm, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and a helium-Raman system were applied to a panel painting reference, in combination with X-ray fluorescence analysis. We were able to establish the analysis conditions for a number of sixteenth century pigments and dyes, and other relevant components of panel paintings from this period, 1064 nm Raman and SERS being the most successful. The acquired spectra contain valuable specific information for their identification and they conform a very useful database that can be applied to the analysis of Ibero-American Colonial paintings.This article is part of the themed issue 'Raman spectroscopy in art and archaeology'.
authors: Laboratorio Nacional de Ciencias para la Investigación y Conservación del Patrimonio Cultural, Instituto de Física, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito de la Investigación S/N, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico.
authors: María Angélica
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8880-0739
authors: MA
authors: García-Bucio
authors: CONACyT-Laboratorio Nacional de Ciencias para la Investigación y Conservación del Patrimonio Cultural, Instituto de Física, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito de la Investigación S/N, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico.
authors: Edgar
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4574-9416
authors: E
authors: Casanova-González
authors: Laboratorio Nacional de Ciencias para la Investigación y Conservación del Patrimonio Cultural, Instituto de Física, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito de la Investigación S/N, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico sil@fisica.unam.mx.
authors: José Luis
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1431-3019
authors: JL
authors: Ruvalcaba-Sil
authors: Laboratorio Nacional de Ciencias para la Investigación y Conservación del Patrimonio Cultural, Instituto de Investigaciones Estéticas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Mario de la Cueva S/N, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico.
authors: Elsa
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9251-9042
authors: E
authors: Arroyo-Lemus
authors: Laboratorio Nacional de Ciencias para la Investigación y Conservación del Patrimonio Cultural, Instituto de Física, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito de la Investigación S/N, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, 04510 Mexico City, Mexico.
authors: Alejandro
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0877-5033
authors: A
authors: Mitrani-Viggiano
keywords: Mexican Colonial panel paintings; Raman spectroscopy; dyes; in situ analysis; non-destructive characterization; pigments