Egyptian blue in Etruscan funerary wall paintings: A multi-analytical study from the Monterozzi necropolis (Tarquinia)

A groundbreaking multi-analytical study of the Monterozzi Necropolis in Tarquinia, Italyreveals the extensive use of Egyptian blue in Etruscan funerary wall paintings from the 7th to 3rd century BCE. The research, part of the ARANTH campaign, identified this pigment not only as a primary color but also in combination with others across green, red, blue, and whitish areas. A novel application of micro-fluorescence in near-infrared imaging enabled rapid localization of luminescent grains, later confirmed by Raman spectroscopy, providing unprecedented insights into the spatial distribution of Egyptian blue within pictorial layers. Additionally, azurite was identified for the first time in Etruscan mural painting, offering new evidence on pigment use and painting technology. The study integrated advanced techniques such as VIS–NIR hyperspectral analysis, X-ray fluorescence, and FT-IR spectroscopy to map and analyze five painted tombs, contributing significantly to our understanding of Etruscan funerary art.

Casanova Municchia, A., Adinolfi, G., Boccuto, A., Botteon, A., Buti, D., Carmagnola, R., Catrambone, M., Conti, C., Di Tullio, V., Luvidi, L., Mattana, S., Miliani, C., Romani, A., & Tomassetti, M. C. (2026). Egyptian blue in Etruscan funerary wall paintings: A multi-analytical study from the Monterozzi necropolis (Tarquinia). Journal of Cultural Heritage, 79, 345–360. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.culher.2026.04.009