Identification of green earth pigments in Coptic wall paintings using ESEM-EDX, FTIR imaging and Visible Reflectance Spectroscopy

Main Article Content

Hussein H. Marey Mahmoud
Cairo University, Faculty of Archaeology, Department of Conservation
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1598-1580

Abstract

The main art form in the Coptic monasteries and churches in Egypt was wall paintings and iconography. In this study, analytical data were gathered on green pigment samples collected from Coptic wall paintings from the monastery of St. Anthony, The Eastern Desert, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt. The samples were analyzed by environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) coupled with an energy dispersive X-ray analysis system (EDX), Imaging with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR imaging) and visible reflectance spectroscopy. The results showed that green earth pigment (terre verte) and mainly the glauconite, was used to produce the green color. In conclusion, some useful information may be obtained from the present study concerning green earth pigments used in Coptic wall paintings.

Keywords: Coptic wall paintings, Monastery of St. Anthony, Green earth pigments, ESEM–EDX, FTIR imaging

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