A spectroscopic analysis of late 16th century domestic wall paintings in the Saracens Head Inn, Nottinghamshire, UK. (25th August 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brooke, Christopher; Edwards, Howell; de Oliveira, Luiz F. C.; Telford, Richard; Surtees, Alex
• Other Names: Kiefer Wolfgang guestEditor.; Colomban Philippe guestEditor.; Edwards Howell G. M. guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Journal of Raman spectroscopy. Volume 52:Number 12(2021)
• Page Start: 2218
• Page End: 2227
• Publication Date: 2021-08-25
• Subjects: EDXS -- elemental analysis -- Raman imaging -- Tudor wall paintings -- vernacular art; Raman spectroscopy -- Periodicals; 535.846
• DOI: 10.1002/jrs.6243
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0377-0486

Abstract

Abstract: The mural paintings in the late medieval Saracens Head Inn, Southwell, Nottinghamshire, UK, represent an unusual survival of domestic Tudor artwork in this region. Stylistic dating puts the range of the paintings as c . 1580–1620. The artistic design and archaeological context of the paintings has been studied and paint samples extracted for microscopic, SEM‐EDXS, and Raman spectroscopic analysis. In addition, portable Raman analysis was utilized. The paintings, which were only discovered in the 1980s and 1990s, hidden below later plaster, were conserved and a degree of undocumented retouching was applied. The analysis, though restricted by excessive fluorescence from many of the samples, has revealed the broad pigment palette used by the original Tudor artist(s) as well as identifying the modern pigments introduced during conservation work. Abstract : Three unusual Tudor period wall paintings have been analysed using mobile and laboratory Raman and EDX instruments in order to determine their pigment composition and the extent of restoration work. This analysis demonstrates the potential of Raman spectroscopy as a highly effective method for the investigation of late medieval mural artwork and as a tool to map areas of later restoration.