Pigments and Binders

Pigments and binders include several natural and synthetic materials which have been used since pre‐history to produce a variety of colored artworks and textiles. Binders are used in paintings to disperse pigments. They include inorganic materials (e.g., in frescoes , water is the pigment vehicle; however, plaster is the ultimate binder) and organic materials (natural ones, such as proteins, siccative oils; or synthetic ones, such as acrylic, vinylic, alkydic). Characterizing the binding medium is fundamental in assessing the painting technique and addressing conservation issues, in order to devise the optimal restoration and/or display strategy. In addition, knowledge of an artist's palette facilitates a complete understanding of their work. These materials are usually characterized starting with an array of noninvasive imaging techniques, followed by the application of micro‐invasive (both destructive and not) protocols based on chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques.