Pigments and Binders in the Paint Layers of Wall Paintings of Pre-Mongolian Cathedrals of Veliky Novgorod

The pigments and binders of ruined pre-Mongolian wall paintings (12th century) of four architectural monuments in Veliky Novgorod are studied. The examined fragments are from the Church of the Annunciation on Gorodishche, St. George’s Cathedral of the Yuriev Monastery, St. Nicholas Cathedral at Yaroslav’s Court, and lifting material from the bottom of the Volkhov River, presumably related to St. Sophia Cathedral. The mineral composition of the painted layers of the samples is determined using scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis and X-ray diffraction analysis using synchrotron radiation. Using infrared (IR) spectroscopy and gas chromatography with mass spectrometry, an organic binder is identified in several samples, and the binder for all four monuments was the same: protein products from chicken egg. Thus, it is shown that two painting techniques were used on the studied fragments: fresco and a secco.