30 Mag Linking pigments with the affable status of the clients
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 esatto different archaeometric evidence that must be investigated and unravelled (see Salvadori and Sbrolli 2021 and Murat 2021 per this TC).
For example, some pigments, such as ochers, lend themselves to being used with the verso recente technique, while for others, such as those based on lead, per 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 preciso others.
Moreover, we know that some pigments, such as those based on arsenic, are particularly sensitive esatto 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 per correct monitor of the artefact and its conservation.
Finally, the information that we can obtain from the study of per celibe artefact or artwork represents a piece of the wider mosaic that describes the evolution of painting techniques and is, therefore, of value sopra the broad field of art history.
Up puro this point, the questions posed sicuro 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 onesto the use of specific pigments that go beyond technological choices. For example, “is it possible onesto establish whether the type of pigment used corresponds esatto a desire for representation?” or, sopra other words, “can the low/high cost of per pigment faithfully reflect the agreable governo of the clients?”.
The use of cinnabar instead of ocher, for example, has often been referred preciso as verso desire for accommodant self-representation on the part of the clients rather than puro per different-more vivid and brilliant-rendering of cinnabar compared puro ocher. Similar assumptions have been made regarding the use of Egyptian blue and lapis lazuli, although there were per niente other choices per the ancient world with which onesto obtain blue.
Preciso avoid possible anachronism, the study of the relationship between pigment and client may help clarify if pigments were used as verso demagogic and self-representative tool and cast an eye on the tastes of the time.
Sampling criteria and methods
Durante the cases that are addressed below, the sampling aims sicuro answer the questions that we have analysed per the previous chapters; however, the most important aspect preciso keep mediante mind concerns contextualisation.
Mortars, plasters and pigments constitute a complex system of structural and aesthetic importance that must be contextualised within the various phases of per historic building. Attributing a specific context sicuro the various components is essential for correct sampling for archaeometric purposes. Sicuro this end, it is necessary sicuro apply the method of “reading” historical buildings established precisely by the BA esatto correct extrapolation of the components according sicuro their space–time dimension.
As anticipated above, we must also consider that the research sopra progress may raise new questions not stated from the beginning. For these reasons, the sampling and, above all, the quantity of material esatto be taken should always be slightly greater than what we establish at the table, as long as the conservation requirements are respected.
How puro obtain a 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 court. Although the most obvious and frequent question is “how many samples are needed?”, not only is there no 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?” App daf.