Identification of Binding Media in Paintings

The binding media used in fifteen paintings by different artists and from different eras were investigated by the new method. The earliest paintings analyzed were attributed to Boccaccino (1466–1524) and Pordenone (1483–1539). Three paintings were contemporary and belong to the years 1969–1984. The ratio between a pair of derivatized fatty acids analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry suggested the drying oils used.