Composition and technology of historical stuccoes coming from Grimani Palace in Venice (Italy)

Stucco samples moulded during a long period (from 1500 to 1700) were collected from Palazzo Grimani in Venice to study the binder and the working techniques. Three types of mixtures based on calcite and magnesite, on calcite, magnesite and gypsum and finally only on calcite were detected. The presence of magnesite in stuccoworks brings up questions about the employment of this substance, probably added to modify the workability and the aspect of the stuccoes.