EDXRF analysis of the Pentecost Triptych from the “São Pedro de Miragaia” church (Porto, Portugal)

Abstract EDXRF spectrometry was used to determine the pigment composition of the Pentecost Triptych, a Flemish masterpiece located at the Church of Sao Pedro de Miragaia (Porto, Portugal). The triptych was restored at the beginning of the 20th century and presents a great number of zones with repaints and colour alterations that can be observed on the whole of their surface. The identification of the original pigments and restoration pigments was based on their characteristic colour and the correlation between the detected elements and the named “key elements” of ancient pigments (Ca, Fe, Cu, Hg, Pb,…) and modern pigments (Ti, Ba, Cr, Zn, Co, Cd,…). The analysis of the triptych has been carried out in situ by means of portable instrumentation.