Identification of Colourants and Varnishes in a 14th Century Decorated Wood-Carved Door of the Dionysiou Monastery in Mount Athos

A 14th-century decorated wooden door from the Dionysiou Monastery on Mount Athos, Greece, reveals a rare combination of inorganic and organic colourants, including orpiment, lead white, red lead, cinnabar, carbon black, gypsum, anhydrite, calcite, and an indigoid dye. This finding, derived from advanced microscopy (SEM-EDX) and spectroscopy (micro-Raman, FTIR), sheds light on late Byzantine artistic techniques and material use. The study also identified the varnish type and its condition, providing critical data for restoration efforts to preserve this UNESCO-listed site's cultural heritage.

Konstantas, A., Karapanagiotis, I., & Boyatzis, S. C. (2021). Identification of Colourants and Varnishes in a 14th Century Decorated Wood-Carved Door of the Dionysiou Monastery in Mount Athos. Coatings, 11(9), 1087. https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings11091087