Characterisation of natural organic materials in paintings by GC/MS analytical procedures

This review deals with the application of anal. procedures based on gas chromatog. coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS) for the characterization of org. natural materials, such as proteinaceous, polysaccharidic and lipid binders, and animal and plant resins in artistic paintings. The focus is on the various anal. steps that are needed to det. these natural materials in paint samples, from sample pre-treatment, including various methods of hydrolysis, purifn. and derivation, up to GC/MS anal. This paper also reviews the chem. compn. of natural org. materials used in works of art and their behavior during upon aging.