Raman Identification of Pigments in Wall Paintings of the Colonial Period from Bolivian Churches in the Ruta De La Plata

Carlos Rúa; Marcela Sepúlveda; Sebastián Gutiérrez; José J. Cárcamo-Vega; Julio Surco-Luque; Marcelo Campos-Vallette; Fernando Guzmán; Paola Conti; Magdalena Pereira

doi:10.6092/issn.1973-9494/7945

Authors

Carlos Rúa Taller Nacional de Patrimonio Muebles, Ministerio de Culturas y Turismo, La Paz
Marcela Sepúlveda Laboratorio de Análisis e Investigaciones Arqueométricas (LAIA), Instituto de Alta Investigación (IAI), Universidad de Tarapacá
Sebastián Gutiérrez Laboratorio de Análisis e Investigaciones Arqueométricas (LAIA), Instituto de Alta Investigación (IAI), Universidad de Tarapacá, Arica
José J. Cárcamo-Vega Laboratorio de Análisis e Investigaciones Arqueométricas (LAIA), Instituto de Alta Investigación (IAI), Departamento de Química, Universidad de Tarapacá, Arica
Julio Surco-Luque Departamento de Química, Universidad de Tarapacá, Arica
Marcelo Campos-Vallette Departamento de Química, Universidad de Chile, Santiago
Fernando Guzmán Facultad de Artes Liberales, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Viña del Mar
Paola Conti Facultad de Artes Liberales, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Viña del Mar
Magdalena Pereira Fundación Altiplano, Arica

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6092/issn.1973-9494/7945

Keywords:

Andean colonial churches, wall paintings, pigments, Raman spectroscopy

Abstract

Micro-Raman spectroscopy was used to analyze and identify pigments and determine the palette of color in wall paintings from four churches of the Colonial Period, in the Bolivian highlands. The ancient churches Santiago de Callapa, Curahuara de Carangas, NuestraSeñora de Copacabana de Andamarca and San José de Soracachi were constructed during the 17th and 18th centuries, around the important colonial Ruta de la Plata, between Potosí city and Arica harbor on the Pacific coast of South America. Most pigments used in the wall paintings correspond to inorganic minerals as well as to organic colorants. Fully chlorinated copper phthalocyanine (green), copper phthalocyanine (blue), β-naphthol (yellow) and benzoimidazolone (red), were identified in the corresponding colored areas suggesting subsequent recent interventions or restorations. Ground layer materials were also characterized. The present results allow for discussion of the pictorial techniques used in the Andean highland during the colonial period and allow conservators and restorers to make important decisions regarding the type of intervention to perform in the case of these important historical and patrimonial monuments.

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