Material Research of Gilding on Medieval Polychrome Sculpture

This paper proposes an innovative protocol using MALDI-TOF MS (Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionisation - Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry), SEMEDX (Scanning Electron Microscope coupled to Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy), and fluorescence test Sypro Ruby for simultaneous identification and mapping of protein binders in the ground and adhesive under-layer of the gildings on polished cross-sections. The proposed protocol was used to identify gold foils, inorganic pigments and for localization protein binders on the samples derived from the polychrome sculpture "Mourning of Jesus Christ" from the early 16th century, whose pattern was the woodcut made by Albrecht Durer.