ToF-SIMS Spectra of Historical Inorganic Pigments

Cultural heritage research uses analytical science to investigate historical samples such as paintings. Paintings are heterogeneous materials that contain pigments. Historical pigments include various natural and synthetic inorganic materials and identifying them informs about the artwork’s nature and condition. ToF-SIMS is increasingly relevant in cultural heritage research, thanks to the simultaneous detection and mapping of organic and inorganic materials. A confident identification of a historical pigment in a painting sample requires comparison with ToF-SIMS spectra from historically relevant references. This collection presents ToF-SIMS data for a large selection of the main pigments used prior to the industrial revolution.

Image courtesy of Caroline Bouvier.