Graffiti Characterization Prior to Intervention in the Punta Begoña Galleries (Getxo, North of Spain): Raman and XRF Spectroscopy in the Service of Restoration

The Historical and Cultural Heritage of Punta Begoña Galleries in Getxo (Bizkaia, North Spain) are currently restoration after being abandoned for years. For that reason, many graffiti, which directly affect the wall paintings, appear on most their walls. Moreover, several graffiti overlap each other, makes removal more difficult. all these reasons, chemical characterization pigments is a priority to optimize cleaning consolidation treatments paintings. That case, an analysis based Raman spectroscopy X-ray fluorescence was carried out obtain information help conservators remove without damaging mural paintings support. Nevertheless, first step, using spectroscopy, involved need database compare results identify compounds. Thus, different commercial inks were elementally molecularly characterized complete existing databases. After this, noted presence organic pigments, such as phthalocyanines. Inorganic titanium oxide identified well. analysis, selection best process could be provide effective treatment, avoiding “trial-and-error” classical practice.