Micro-Raman investigations on the fresco 'Trapasso della Vergine' in the Church of 'S. Giovanni Battista' of Paterno Calabro in southern Italy

In this work, a micro-Raman spectroscopic investigation was carried out to identify the pigments used in the fresco 'Trapasso della Vergine'. This fresco is in the Church of S. Giovanni Battista (St. John the Baptist) in Paterno Calabro, southern Italy, and is believed to have been painted during the first half of the 16th century, on the basis of the available historical documents. The analysis was performed on five specimens belonging to significant zones of the fresco, detached because of the degradation processes. Raman spectra were collected by a Jobin Yvon micro-Raman LABRAM apparatus, with a He-Ne laser (632.8 nm) as excitation source. The white, blue and red pigments were identified. Some indications were obtained about the geographical origin of the pigments and a restoration in the 19th century. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.