Abstract
Combined spectroscopy methods of analysis were applied to the contemporary mural paintings of the Amfissa Cathedral (Church of the Annunciation painted during 1926-32) in Fokida province, Central Greece, including EDXRF, FTIR, IR-PAS, RAMAN, XRD, gas chromatography and digital photography, with a twofold aim: a) identify paint media and artist’s pigments and materials used during previous conservation treatments, and b) investigate Papaloukas’ marked influence on his artistic development in relation to the artistic movements of the 20th century artists, an elaborated perfectionist whose creative abilities enabled him to explore the complex trends in modern painting and produce a series of works varied from impressionism to early expressionism. Identified pigments include ultramarine, charcoal, haematite, yellow ochre, Prussian blue, lead white, chrome yellow. Several painted layers were consisted of yellow ochre (goethite), calcite, used as white pigment, red ochre (anhydrous iron oxide), ultramarine. Pigments were mixed with binding mediums such as animal glue, casein or egg. Gas chromatography identified the presence of egg tempera and animal glue.