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Table 2 Portrait of a young girl, (ca. 1888) by Fillipo Franzoni. Analytical results

From: Faded shine…. The degradation of brass powder in two nineteenth century paintings

Sample

ATR–FTIR–FPA

LM

XRF

SEM–EDX

Overall interpretation

Metallic flakes

No signal

Metallic leaf fragments 1–2 μm thick and up to 40 μm long, embedded in the paint

Cu Zn

Cu 90 Zn 10

Brass metal leaf

Green agglomerates

2921, 2851, 1741, 1710, 1585, 1540, 1459, 1441, 1413, 1316, 1166 cm−1 copper and zinc carboxylates, free fatty acids and carboxylate esters

Green, non-fluorescent material involving the metal leaf fragments. Present throughout the paint layer. Dimensions relate to those of the metal fragment present in the core of the agglomerate

Cu Zn

Cu, Zn, Cl

Reaction phase between oil phase and the copper and zinc in the metallic pigment

Paint build-up

1-Ground n/a

2-Red paint layer 2921, 2851, 1737 cm−1; 1086 cm−1 quartz; 3750, 3695, 3650, 3620, 1086, 1010, 913 cm−1 kaolinite, 1400 cm−1 carbonate calcium

3-Beige paint layer 2956, 2918, 2848, 1737, 1710, 1236, 1162 cm−1 Lipids (drying oil and wax) 1795, 1410 carbonate; 1510 lead carboxylate, 1086 quartz cm−1 1034, 913 cm−1 clay minerals

4-Grey overpaint 1457, 1403, 1027 cm−1 calcium phosphate (bone black) 1400, 1044 cm−1 lead white, 1511 lead carboxylate 2950, 2920, 2850, 1737, 1240, 1163 cm−1 oil

1-White ground layer

2-Red paint layer

3-Beige layer: (red, blue, yellow and white pigment particles)

4-Grey overpaint: White and black pigment particles

n/a

1-Ground layer: Ca, S, O and Ca, C, O (in individual particles)

2-Red paint layer: Fe, Ca (localized in particles), Al, Si, Pb (finely dispersed), Mn, S, Cl

3-Beige paint layer: Pb (finely dispersed) Zn, Al, Si, Ca (localized in particles), Cl

4-Grey overpaint: Pb, Ca, P, Cl

1-The ground layer is composed of a mixture of calcium sulphate and calcium carbonate

2-The red paint is oil containing pigmented with red earth pigment

3-The beige paint layer is pigmented with yellow and orange earth pigments, bound in oil

4-The grey overpaint contains lead white and bone black pigments in oil