Molecular Spectroscopy in Art and Archaeology

A special issue of Heritage (ISSN 2571-9408).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2025 | Viewed by 826

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Conservation of Antiquities and Works of Art, University of West Attica, Athens, Greece
Interests: materials in art objects and antiquities; the use of spectroscopic techniques for investigating their molecular structure and deterioration mechanisms, and the development of new materials for conservation, in particular, molecular spectroscopy (FTIR, UV-vis absorption and fluorescence, and mass spectrometry), chromatography, as well as thermal analysis-based techniques for investigating the chemical structure and the degradation mechanisms of colorants, inks, organic binding media, resins, and varnishes, as well as inorganic and organic materials in archaeological findings

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Spectroscopic investigations are essential for materials-based studies of archaeological and art objects. Vibrational and electronic spectroscopy and mass spectrometry have long been recognized as powerful tools for the molecular characterization of organic and inorganic materials. Technological advancements have rendered the non-invasive applicability of these techniques indispensable for the modern investigator. Materials science, archaeometry, and conservation science, among others, are benefited by these advancements, providing valuable information to art historians, art object evaluators and authenticators, archaeologists, historians, and scholars and investigators studying cultural heritage.

The goal of this Special Issue is to collect papers (original research articles, technical papers, and review articles) that provide insights into the characterization of materials in art and archaeology, with emphasis on the added value offered by the combination of these techniques and their transformation from laboratory benchtop systems to transportable/portable systems for field applications.

This issue welcomes papers focusing on molecular techniques such as infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible absorption and fluorescent spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and mass spectrometry, especially in combination with chromatography (GC, LC) and direct temperature separation (i.e., DTMS). Although this issue is focused on the experimental applications of these techniques, theoretical studies on the molecular systems involved in the context outlined above are also welcome.

This Special Issue welcomes manuscripts with the following themes:

  • FTIR spectroscopy and microscopy in transmission, reflection, and ATR modes;
  • Raman spectroscopy and microscopy and Raman–SERS;
  • UV–visible absorption spectroscopy, micro-spectroscopy, and imaging;
  • UV–visible molecular fluorescence spectroscopy, micro-spectroscopy, and imaging;
  • Mass spectrometry and hyphenated techniques such as GC-MS, LC-MS, and DTMS;
  • NMR and NMR-MOUSE;
  • Advanced statistical analysis combining the results of the above techniques.

Prof. Dr. Stamatis C. Boyatzis
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Heritage is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • cultural heritage
  • vibrational spectroscopy
  • UV-visible absorption
  • molecular fluorescence
  • mass spectrometry
  • nuclear magnetic resonance

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

21 pages, 2083 KiB  
Article
The Investigation of Stefan Luchian Heritage Paintings—A Multi-Analytical Approach
by Andrei Victor Oancea, Bogdana Simionescu, Laura Elena Ursu, Mioara Murariu, Marius Dobromir, Maria Geba, Lacramioara Stratulat and Mihaela Olaru
Heritage 2025, 8(1), 26; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8010026 - 13 Jan 2025
Viewed by 433
Abstract
Based on a multi-analytical approach involving mobile techniques and lab-based devices (XPS, portable and micro-Raman spectroscopies, and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, combined with SEM/EDS and optical microscopy), this study presents the first in-depth investigation of two cultural heritage artworks painted by the famous Romanian artist [...] Read more.
Based on a multi-analytical approach involving mobile techniques and lab-based devices (XPS, portable and micro-Raman spectroscopies, and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, combined with SEM/EDS and optical microscopy), this study presents the first in-depth investigation of two cultural heritage artworks painted by the famous Romanian artist Ștefan Luchian. The research highlights the artist’s use of a wide range of colors, with his palette including classic pigments such as ochers, lead white, barium white, zinc white, and viridian, as well as contemporary colors such as cobalt purple, alizarin crimson, and the little-known indium yellow. Additionally, attempts are made to characterize the binders used in the paintings, which include linseed oil and animal glue. Beyond identifying the types of pigments and materials used by the artist and assessing the degradation stage of the paintings, this study is the first to provide information regarding the use of In2O3 as a yellow pigment in artwork. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Spectroscopy in Art and Archaeology)
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