Non-destructive EDXRF-analysis of the golden haloes of Giotto's frescos in the Chapel of the Scrovegni in Padua

The famous frescos by Giotto in the Chapel of the Scrovegni in Padua were systematically analysed in more than 300 points with various types of portable equipments based on energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence. A large number of golden haloes in particular were analysed, several black haloes where a golden leaf had come off, as well as several black haloes with no gold. From the measurements it could be deduced that the golden leaf is composed of pure gold, with a mean thickness of about 1.6 mum. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.