Analytical evidences of the use of iron-gall ink as a pigment on miniature paintings

Iron-gall ink (IGI) has been used by scribes for writing since at least the 4th century CE. Despite its widespread use to draw lines, IGI has been hardly identified in paintings as well, perhaps due to a lack of reliable diagnostic information. In situ non-invasive techniques (Raman spectroscopy, FORS, XRF) have been used in this work to show that IGI was used for painting on manuscripts in the range 6-16th century.414