Pigment identification on "Pietà" of Barletta, example of Renaissance Apulian sculpture: a Raman microscopy study.

A study of the original painting layer of the "Pietà" of Barletta, a polychrome statue, important example of Renaissance Apulian sculpture, was performed by mu-Raman spectroscopy. Vermilion was identified in the original layer of the blood drops on Jesus knee. Lazurite was identified as the original blue pigment on Our Lady's veil and lace, currently a yellow ochre-like color.

Multiphoton cross-section measurements with low-power cw laser-induced luminescence.

A new method is presented that yields absolute multiphoton cross-section value gamma(n)(n = 2,3) by comparative one-, two-, and three-photon luminescence measurements and by utilizing low-power single-mode cw lasers. The experiments were performed on different dye solutions. The gamma(2) and gamma(3) experimental values obtained are compared with previous experimental data obtained with high-power laser sources.