Raman spectroscopic signatures of the yellow and ochre paints from artist palette of J. Matejko (1838–1893)

•Raman spectroscopic signatures of the original XIX c. yellow and ochre paints (brand of R. Ainé/Paris).•Complementarity of Raman analysis combined with XRF–EDX, FTIR and LIPS.•Supporting tool for in-situ and authenticity studies of 300 paintings of J. Matejko (1838–1893).

The Raman and complementary spectroscopic analyses were performed using the exceptional possibility of research on the XIX c. original paint materials of the artist palette of J. Matejko stored in the National Museum in Cracow. The yellow and ochre-based paints characteristic for Matejko’s workshop and selected from the ensemble of 273 labelled tubes (brand of R. Ainé/Paris) supplied during the period of 1880–1893 were investigated. Highly specific Raman spectra were obtained for paints containing mixtures of the Zn- and Sn-modified Pb–Sb pigment, and also for the ochre-based ones. A clear pigment discrimination of the mixture of cadmium yellow (CdS), cinnabar (HgS) and lead white (2PbCO3⋅Pb(OH)2) was possible by means of Raman data collected under different excitations at 514 nm and 785 nm. It was shown that the Raman spectra complemented by the XRF, SEM–EDX and in some cases also by the LIPS and FTIR data ensure reliable pigment identification in multi-component paints containing secondary species and impurities. The reported spectral signatures will be used for non-destructive investigation of the collection of about 300 oil paintings of J. Matejko. In view of the comparative research on polish painting which point out that richness of modified Naples yellows clearly distinguish Matejko’s artworks from other ones painted in the period of 1850–1883, the Raman data of these paints can provide support in the authentication studies.

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