M. Járó - L. Költő szerk.: Archaeometrical research in Hungary (Budapest, 1988)

Analysis - WITTMANN Zsuzsa, BÉLAFI-RÉTI Katalin, DÉCSY Zoltán, ERDŐHALMI-TÖRÖK Klára, KISS—BENDEFY Márta, VASSÁNYI István, VELLEDITS Lajos: Examination of painting materials used by Mihály Munkácsy for his painting "Studio"

4. Results 4.1 Examination of organic material content of the samples 4.1.1 Examination methods The organic material content of the samples (bitumen-like material, binding media) was analysed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry, infrared spectrometry and mass spectrometry, gas chromatography, microscopic staining test methods on embedded cross sections of paint samples. 4.1.2 Instrumental examinations The mass spectrum of the organic material content of ground I (from sample 10) can be seen in Fig. 2. (In every case a direct sample inlet system was used at an ionization potential of 15 eV.) H CO 8* 111 d 70 15* : s

96 170 so 100 tso 200 L2.00 2

,

2

* 260 250 309 H>£ Fig. 2 Mass spectrum of sample 10 1000 H CO H ei 30 70 84 86 111 96 154 370 3.50 50 100 150 7DO 224 360b,o0 ^0 M* Fig. 2/a MUSS spectrum of glue Some other mass spectra were obtained from different materials used in the painting techniques and among them we have found glue in the sample. The mass spectra from the back of the canvas are also similar to the spectrum of glue (Fig. 2/a). In addition, it is probable that the sample contained drying oil. As ageing proceeds, oxidation and polymerization reactions occurred, acidic compounds were formed (propionic acid, azelaic acid, etc. with 74 and 188 molecular mass) [4]. No such molecular ions were seen in the mass spectrum of ground I. In this case the specific staining test for drying oils [6] was useful: it could not be detected either.