Abstract

This study fills the gap regarding the behaviour of neutral verdigris pigment (Cu(CH₃COO)₂·H₂O) in traditional wall-painting techniques, an area far less studied than its degradation in manuscripts or easel paintings. Verdigris was applied using three historical methods—a secco (egg yolk or rabbit glue), mezzo-fresco (lime water), and fresco (lime paste)—and complementary pigment–binder mixtures were prepared to isolate binder effects. Multimodal analyses (stereomicroscopy, spectrophotometry, OM, SEM, XRD, ATR-FTIR) revealed a striking contrast between acidic and alkaline environments: verdigris remained chemically and microstructurally stable in a secco but underwent rapid and extensive alteration in lime-based techniques. These transformations produced marked colour shifts, micro-textural heterogeneity, and micrometric secondary compounds such as copper and calcium acetates (e.g. paceite), and tenorite. The findings provide new insights into historical wall-painting practices as they re-examine the use of verdigris with certain painting techniques, also with significant implications for conservation strategies involving verdigris-containing artworks.

Details

Title
The fate of neutral verdigris in wall paintings: chromatic, micro-morphological, mineralogical and chemical transformations
Author
Jiménez-Desmond, Daniel 1 ; Pozo-Antonio, José Santiago 1 ; Arizzi, Anna 2 

 CINTECX, University of Vigo, GESSMin group, Dpt. of Natural Resources and Environmental Engineering, School of Mining and Energy Engineering, Vigo, Spain (ROR: https://ror.org/05rdf8595) (GRID: grid.6312.6) (ISNI: 0000 0001 2097 6738) 
 Department of Mineralogy and Petrology, Faculty of Science, University of Granada, Granada, Spain (ROR: https://ror.org/04njjy449) (GRID: grid.4489.1) (ISNI: 0000 0004 1937 0263) 
Pages
12
Section
Article
Publication year
2026
Publication date
Dec 2026
Publisher
Springer Nature B.V.
e-ISSN
30593220
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
3291109853
Copyright
© The Author(s) 2026. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ (the "License"). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.