Representative samples obtained from the chapel “St. Nikolay” in the church “The nativity of the virgin”, Rila Monastery (Bulgaria), were analyzed by means of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with Energy Dispersive X–ray Spectroscopy (SEM‑EDS), and X‑Ray Powder Diffraction (XRD). Via these complementary techniques and by the help of a spectral database, containing commercial and local reference materials, we were able to identify the mineral pigments in the paint samples: calcite, gypsum, yellow ochre, green earths, smalt, red lead and emerald green. The simultaneous presence of proteinaceous and lipid material in the paint implied the use of egg‑tempera technique. Only the blue backgrounds in the murals were executed by smalt‑based paint mixed with a carbohydrate binder.
Key words: Rila Monastery, pigments, IR, Raman, XRD
Topic: CHEMISTRY