Identification of the byzantine encaustic mural painting in Egypt

Part of : Mediterranean archaeology & archaeometry : international journal ; Vol.15, No.2, 2015, pages 243-256

Issue:
Pages:
243-256
Author:
Abstract:
Encaustic painting uncovered in the hermitage of Apa Apollo at Baouit- Assuit, was studied by means of spectroscopic, chromatography as well as elemental x- ray fluorescence, the analysis revealed unique information’s about the composition of the organic binding medium, as well as it deformation and alteration pattern. The elemental analysis highlights also the types of pigments used in the artistic palette used by the painter in order to execute his paintings.Beeswax was proved to be used, from bees which feed on sunflower, lead was the major component of the orange pigment indicating the usage of minium, arsenic sulphide mixed with hematite was used for the brownish red color, a copper based blue pigment, probably the Egyptian blue as well as the green earth mixed with Attachmate was also used for green colors.The results of the study gives a new information’s about a unique paintings executed with a rare technique, in Egypt.
Subject:
Subject (LC):
Keywords:
encaustic, monastery, mural painting, byzantine, Assuit, beeswax, FTIR, GC-MS
Notes:
Corresponding author: Basem Gehad (basemgehad2013@gmail.com)
References (1):
  1. Bearat,H. (1996) Chemical and mineralogical analyses of * gallo-roman wall painting from dietik-on, switzerland, Archaeometry 38, 1 81-95.Bénazeth,D., Herbich,T. (2008) le kôm de baouît : étapes d’une cartographie, BIFAO 108.Benazeth,D. (2010) Nouvelles Campagnes de fouilles a Baouit(2005, 2006). Etudes Coptes XI,Paris, pp17-25.Berry, M. (2002) The Study of Pigments from Shrine I at Ismant el-Kharab, in C. A. Hope and G. E. Bowen (eds), Dakhleh Oasis Project: Preliminary Reports on the 1994–1995 to 1998– 1999 Field Seasons, 53–60.Binda, L., Saisi, A., Tiraboschi, C., Valle, S., Colla, C. and Forde, M. C. (2003) Application of sonic and radar tests on the piers and walls of the Cathedral of Noto. Construction and Building Materials, vol. 17, 613–627.Bohm, B. A., & Stussey, T. F. (2002). Flavonoids of sun flower family. Biologia plantarum, 45(2), 226.Bonaduce, I. and Colombini, M. P. (2004). Charchterisation of beeswax in works of art by gas chrimatography - mass spectrometery and pyrolysis - gas chromatography- mass spectrometery procedures. Journal of chromatography, 1028, 297-306.Buckley, H. A, Bevan, J. C., Brown, K. M., and. Johnson, L. R ( 1978) Glauconite and celadonite" two separatemineral species Mineralogical Magazine, September, vol. 42, pp. 373-82.Cartwright, C., Middleton, A. (2008) Scientific aspects of ancient faces: mummy portraits from egypt , in the british museum technical research bulletin, vol2.Cosentino, P. and Martorana, R. (2001) The resistivity grid applied to wall structures: first results. Proceedings of the 7th Meeting of the Environmental and Engineering Geophysical Society, Euro-pean Section, Birmingham, U.K.Derrick, M., stulk, D., & Lundry, J. (1999). Infra red spectroscopy for conservation science. los angeles: Getty conservation institute.Doxiadis, E. (1995). The Mysterious Fayoum Portraits, faces from ancient egypt. Cairo : the American University in cairo press.Innemee , K. (1999). Encuastic painting in egypt, painting in Dier el surian. 2, 131-139.Kühn, H. (1960). Detection and Identification of Waxes, including Punic Wax, by Infra-Red .Meilunas, R., Bentsen , J., & Steinberg, A. (1990). Analysis of Aged Paint Binders by FTIR Spectroscopy . Studeis in Conservation , 33-51.Mirghani, M., Che Man, Y., Jinap, S., Baharin, B., & Bakar, J. (2002). FTIR Spectroscopic Determination of Soap in Refined Vegetable Oils. JAOCS, 79(2), 113.Moretto, L. M., Orsega, E. F., & Mazzocchin, G. A. (2011). Spectroscopic methods for the analysis of celadonite and glauconitein Roman. Journal ofCulturalHeritage, 3-11.Moretto, L. m., Orsega, E. F., & Mazzocchin, G. A. (2011). Spectroscopic methods fro the analysis of celadonite and glauconite in roman wall paintings. Journal of cultural Heritage .temperature gas chromatography and chemometric analysis. food chemistery, 136, 961 - 968.Megahed, M., Nashy , H., & Ashkar, E. (2011). Evaluation of fried edible oil and determenation of elemnts content. Agriculture and biology journal of north america, 687-692.Lieber, F. (1840). Encyclopædia Americana: a popular dictionary of arts and sciences (Vol. IV). Philadelphia.Maia, M., & Nunes, F. M. (2013). Authentication of beeswax ( apis mellifera )by highPetrie, W. (1911). Roman portrait and Memphis (IV). London: school of Archeology in Egypt.Pitthard, V., Vak, B., Griesser, M., Stanek, S., & Laubenberger, M. (2007). Fayoum Portraits from the collection of greek and roman antiquites, Kunsthistorisches museum, Vienna. Technologishe Studien, 4, 11-29.Rackman , H. (1952). Pliny the elder natural history, chapter XXXV. Cambridge .Ramer, B. (1979). The Technology, Examination and Conservation of the Fayoum portraits in the Petrie Museum. Studies in Conservation, 1-13. Spectrography. Studies in Conservation, 5, 71-81.Scholl, Reinhold. (2002) Der Papyrus Ebers: die grösste Buchrolle zur Heilkunde Altägyptens.Walker, A. (2012) The Emperor and the World: Exotic Elements and the Imaging of Middle Byzantine Im-perial Power, Ninth to Thirteenth Centuries C.E. New York, Cambridge University Press.White, R. (1978). The application of gas chromatography to the identifcation of waxes. Studies in conservation, 23(2), 57.