Multi-technique analysis of pigments on sandstone sculptures: Renaissance re-painting of a Roman relief

Campbell, L. and Smith, M. (2022) Multi-technique analysis of pigments on sandstone sculptures: Renaissance re-painting of a Roman relief. Heritage Science, 10, 156. (doi: 10.1186/s40494-022-00790-7)

Abstract

The Antonine Wall was commissioned by the Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius around 142 CE and stretches for c. 60 km across the central belt of Scotland, marking the Empire’s most north-western frontier. This vanguard research reports on the materials referred to by Antiquarian sources as having been applied during the sixteenth century for the redecoration of an iconic Distance Sculpture that was once embedded into the mural barrier. Portable non-invasive technologies, including pXRF and in-situ microphotography were deployed. These techniques were further supplemented by micro-sampling for SEM/EDS, FTIR–ATR and microscopy of embedded cross-sections. The validity of applying these complementary techniques has been confirmed. They provide a comprehensive account of the polychromy present, including pigments that could have been applied during the Roman period and others that were only available from the fifteenth or sixteenth Centuries. The work has confirmed stratigraphic sequencing of the pigments which will, in due course, permit the digital reconstruction of how this Classical relief sculpture would have been adorned during the Renaissance.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: Funding: Grant funding was most gratefully received from Historic Environment Scotland (Grant Number HEAP2470491033), the University of Glasgow’s Lord Kelvin Adam Smith Leadership Fellowship, the Scottish Renaissance Society Museum and Galleries Research Award and the Archaeology Incentivisation Fund at the University of Glasgow.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Smith, Dr Margaret and Campbell, Dr Louisa
• Authors: Campbell, L., and Smith, M.
• College/School: College of Arts > School of Culture and Creative Arts; College of Arts > School of Humanities > Archaeology
• Journal Name: Heritage Science
• Publisher: SpringerOpen
• ISSN: 2050-7445
• ISSN (Online): 2050-7445
• Published Online: 05 October 2022
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © The Author(s) 2022
• First Published: First published in Heritage Science 10: 156
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
305660		Paints and Pigments in the Past (PPIP): Postdoctoral Fellowship in Materials Science	Michael Given	Historic Environment Scotland (HISTSCOT)	HEAP2470491033	Arts - Archaeology