https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-024-05800-0
Regular Article
PIXE, SEM and RAMAN analysis of pictorial materials from the VIII century crypt of San Salvatore, Brescia (Italy)
1
School of Physics, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
2
Dep.to de Prehistoria y Arqueologìa, Universidad Autònoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
3
Dip. to di Scienze della Terra dell’Ambiente e della Vita – DISTAV, Università Di Genova, Genoa, Italy
4
Parco Archeologico dell’Appia antica, piazza delle Finanze 1, 00185, Rome, Italy
5
Servicio de Conservación, Restauración y Estudios Científicos del Patrimonio Arqueológico (SECYR), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain
6
Dip. to di Italianistica, Romanistica, Antichistica, Arti e Spettacolo – DIRAAS, Università Di Genova, Genoa, Italy
Received:
28
July
2024
Accepted:
4
November
2024
Published online:
22
November
2024
The complex of Santa Giulia of Brescia (Italy) is a great and extensively studied architectural and archaeological site, of which the church of San Salvatore is an emblematic monument. This study, conducted in the crypt of the church, implements what was published from non-destructive particle induced x-ray emission (PIXE) examination of the painting materials with structural and compositional analyses by Scanning Electron Microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. These analyses produced new and decisive data for a correct identification of the pictorial palette. We also added a photographic documentation in a few bands of the electromagnetic spectrum. The review of all data and their complementarity has allowed a more sound insight into the pictorial techniques used for the crypt’s decoration. This work integrates the archaeological studies conducted on the crypt and, together with them and in comparison with data from coeval monuments, confirms in the church of San Salvatore the use of products and techniques typical of the Longobard Period.
© The Author(s) 2024
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