Radiocarbon dating of lead white: novel application in the study of polychrome sculpture

Abstract Recently, radiocarbon dating underwent considerable technological advances allowing unprecedented sample size downscaling. These achievements introduced novel opportunities in dating cultural heritage objects. Within this pioneering research, the possibility of a direct 14C dating of lead w...

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Autores principales:	Sara Sá, Laura Hendriks, Isabel Pombo Cardoso, Irka Hajdas
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Nature Portfolio 2021
Materias:	Medicine R Science Q
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/985afca5bf8a4857ac943ab4c8534038
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:985afca5bf8a4857ac943ab4c85340382021-12-02T16:07:03ZRadiocarbon dating of lead white: novel application in the study of polychrome sculpture10.1038/s41598-021-91814-y2045-2322https://doaj.org/article/985afca5bf8a4857ac943ab4c85340382021-06-01T00:00:00Zhttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-91814-yhttps://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322Abstract Recently, radiocarbon dating underwent considerable technological advances allowing unprecedented sample size downscaling. These achievements introduced novel opportunities in dating cultural heritage objects. Within this pioneering research, the possibility of a direct 14C dating of lead white pigment and organic binder in paint samples was investigated on polychrome sculptures, a foremost artistic expression in human history. The polychromy, an indivisible part of polychrome sculpture, holds a key role in the interpretation and understanding of these artworks. Unlike in other painted artworks, the study of polychromies is repeatedly hampered by repaints and degradation. The omnipresence of lead white within the original polychromy was thus pursued as dating proxy. Thermal decomposition allowed bypassing geologic carbonate interferences caused by the object's support material, while an added solvent extraction successfully removed conservation products. This radiocarbon dating survey of the polychromy from 16 Portuguese medieval limestone sculptures confirmed that some were produced within the proposed chronologies while others were revised. Within this multidisciplinary study, the potential of radiocarbon dating as a complementary source of information about these complex paint systems guiding their interpretation is demonstrated. The challenges of this innovative approach are highlighted and improvements on sampling and sample preparation are discussed.Sara SáLaura HendriksIsabel Pombo CardosoIrka HajdasNature PortfolioarticleMedicineRScienceQENScientific Reports, Vol 11, Iss 1, Pp 1-14 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Medicine R Science Q
spellingShingle	Medicine R Science Q Sara Sá Laura Hendriks Isabel Pombo Cardoso Irka Hajdas Radiocarbon dating of lead white: novel application in the study of polychrome sculpture
description	Abstract Recently, radiocarbon dating underwent considerable technological advances allowing unprecedented sample size downscaling. These achievements introduced novel opportunities in dating cultural heritage objects. Within this pioneering research, the possibility of a direct 14C dating of lead white pigment and organic binder in paint samples was investigated on polychrome sculptures, a foremost artistic expression in human history. The polychromy, an indivisible part of polychrome sculpture, holds a key role in the interpretation and understanding of these artworks. Unlike in other painted artworks, the study of polychromies is repeatedly hampered by repaints and degradation. The omnipresence of lead white within the original polychromy was thus pursued as dating proxy. Thermal decomposition allowed bypassing geologic carbonate interferences caused by the object's support material, while an added solvent extraction successfully removed conservation products. This radiocarbon dating survey of the polychromy from 16 Portuguese medieval limestone sculptures confirmed that some were produced within the proposed chronologies while others were revised. Within this multidisciplinary study, the potential of radiocarbon dating as a complementary source of information about these complex paint systems guiding their interpretation is demonstrated. The challenges of this innovative approach are highlighted and improvements on sampling and sample preparation are discussed.
format	article
author	Sara Sá Laura Hendriks Isabel Pombo Cardoso Irka Hajdas
author_facet	Sara Sá Laura Hendriks Isabel Pombo Cardoso Irka Hajdas
author_sort	Sara Sá
title	Radiocarbon dating of lead white: novel application in the study of polychrome sculpture
title_short	Radiocarbon dating of lead white: novel application in the study of polychrome sculpture
title_full	Radiocarbon dating of lead white: novel application in the study of polychrome sculpture
title_fullStr	Radiocarbon dating of lead white: novel application in the study of polychrome sculpture
title_full_unstemmed	Radiocarbon dating of lead white: novel application in the study of polychrome sculpture
title_sort	radiocarbon dating of lead white: novel application in the study of polychrome sculpture
publisher	Nature Portfolio
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/985afca5bf8a4857ac943ab4c8534038
work_keys_str_mv	AT sarasa radiocarbondatingofleadwhitenovelapplicationinthestudyofpolychromesculpture AT laurahendriks radiocarbondatingofleadwhitenovelapplicationinthestudyofpolychromesculpture AT isabelpombocardoso radiocarbondatingofleadwhitenovelapplicationinthestudyofpolychromesculpture AT irkahajdas radiocarbondatingofleadwhitenovelapplicationinthestudyofpolychromesculpture
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Radiocarbon dating of lead white: novel application in the study of polychrome sculpture

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