Understanding “how was the pigment applied?” App flirt and/or “how was the surface prepared?” means investigating the link between the pigment and its support. Each technique corresponds onesto different archaeometric evidence that must be investigated and unravelled (see Salvadori and Sbrolli 2021 and Murat 2021 durante this TC).

For example, some pigments, such as ochers, lend themselves puro being used with the verso nuovo technique, while for others, such as those based on lead, per passo 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 onesto others.

Moreover, we know that some pigments, such as those based on arsenic, are particularly fine puro 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 verso correct monitor of the artefact and its conservation.

Finally, the information that we can obtain from the study of per solo artefact or artwork represents a piece of the wider mosaic that describes the evolution of painting techniques and is, therefore, of value con the broad field of art history.

Up esatto this point, the questions posed onesto 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 sicuro the use of specific pigments that go beyond technological choices. For example, “is it possible onesto establish whether the type of pigment used corresponds onesto per desire for representation?” or, sopra other words, “can the low/high cost of a pigment faithfully reflect the aimable ceto of the clients?”.

The use of cinnabar instead of ocher, for example, has often been referred sicuro as verso desire for aimable self-representation on the part of the clients rather than esatto per different-more vivid and brilliant-rendering of cinnabar compared esatto ocher. Similar assumptions have been made regarding the use of Egyptian blue and lapis lazuli, although there were in nessun caso other choices con the ancient world with which onesto obtain blue.

Onesto avoid possible anachronism, the study of the relationship between pigment and client may help clarify if pigments were used as a demagogic and self-representative tool and cast an eye on the tastes of the time.

Sampling criteria and methods

Con the cases that are addressed below, the sampling aims puro answer the questions that we have analysed mediante the previous chapters; however, the most important aspect puro keep in 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 verso specific context onesto the various components is essential for correct sampling for archaeometric purposes. Esatto this end, it is necessary esatto apply the method of “reading” historical buildings established precisely by the BA esatto correct extrapolation of the components according to their space–time dimension.

As anticipated above, we must also consider that the research con progress may raise new questions not stated from the beginning. For these reasons, the sampling and, above all, the quantity of material to be taken should always be slightly greater than what we establish at the table, as long as the conservation requirements are respected.

How sicuro obtain a representative sample batteria of mortars and plasters

The first assumption is that there is niente affatto arbitrary number of samples that can be considered representative tout trapu. Although the most obvious and frequent question is “how many samples are needed?”, not only is there in nessun caso 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?”.