Chemometrics and cultural heritage

An overview of application of chemometrics for the characterization and conservation of cultural heritage is provided. The principal component analysis (PCA) of painted plasters acid soluble components and aggregate granulometric distributions and multivariate characterization of the mass spectral and of the amino acid `fingerprintsʹ of proteinaceous binding media in mural paintings of the Cupola of Florence Cathedral points out the differences in both plasters and binders used by Vasari from those used by Zuccari, evidencing the peculiarities in the painting technique adopted by each artist. Multivariate image analysis of biodeteriorated calcarenite samples envisages the possibility to detect incipient attack by specific biodeteriogens using non invasive analytical methodologies.