Biodegradation effects of three species on iron-based oxides (Hematite - Goethite) in paint layer in oil paintings.

The inorganic colour layer based on iron oxide is affected by microorganisms (fungi) and leads to its deterioration due to feeding on the mineral elements through the chemical composition of the colour in the presence of a suitable environment (medium). Damage occurs as a result of heavy metal elements being removed from the colour, leading to a defect in the chemical composition and the fading of the colours. The current study showed the effect of the different types of the most common fungi on oil paintings ( and ) after cultivating the different types of fungi and obtaining pure colonies for each fungus separately and conducting a fungal infection on experimental samples with preparing the old techniques, coloured with hematite red and goethite yellow.