Fiber Optic Reflection Spectroscopy-Near-Infrared Characterization Study of Dry Pigments for Pictorial Retouching.

A deep comprehension of composition of pigments, employed nowadays in the field of pictorial retouch is considered essential for a deeper knowledge of their behavior with time once applied on artifacts. A commercially available set consisting of 27 pigments employed for the conservation of both historical and contemporary artworks has been characterized through Reflectance Spectroscopy in the VIS and NIR spectral range. The pigments included in the investigated set are classified into four categories: (i) dyes and colors from plants, (ii) modern pigments, (iii) pigments of own production and historical pigments, and (iv) natural earths.