In situ Raman spectroscopic study of marble capitals in the Alhambra monumental ensemble

The marble capitals of five different sites in the Alhambra complex (Granada, Spain), namely the Mexuar, the Hall of the Abencerrages, the Hall of the Kings, the Court of the Myrtles and the Court of the Main Canal, have been investigated. The decoration of the capitals exhibits mainly blue, red, black and gilding motifs with different states of conservation. The work has been carried out in situ by means of a portable Raman micro-spectrometer with an excitation laser of 785 nm. In addition to preserving the artwork with a non-invasive study, the on-site investigation gives a more representative knowledge of the art objects because the measurements are not limited to the samples that can be taken (few and small). The obtained Raman spectra were of good quality despite challenging adverse conditions out of the laboratory. Cinnabar, minium, carbon black, natural lapis lazuli and azurite were the main pigments found. Synthetic ultramarine blue was also detected in a capital as a result of a modern restoration. Degradation products as tin oxide in the gildings and weddellite in the preparation layers were also identified. All the results together with a careful visual inspection can be combined to elucidate the different execution techniques employed to apply the pigments on the marble substrate of the capitals in the Nasrid and Christian periods.