Painting materials and technique of Attavante degli Attavanti: a comparative analysis of two volumes

Little is known about the life of the Florentine artist Attavante degli Attavanti (1482–1525), and even less about the materiality of his illuminations. For the first time, a manuscript and an early printed book were analysed to gain new insights into his painting techniques and materials. To preserve the integrity of these valuable and fragile objects, a non‑invasive methodology including spectroscopic techniques (macro‑XRF (MA‑XRF), fibre‑optic reflectance spectroscopy (FORS), Raman spectroscopy) and extensive microscopy, enabled the identification of a wide range of pigments and metals. The two volumes were compared in terms of palette and painting techniques, with particular attention to the execution of flesh tones, landscapes, and the modelling of draperies. Many similarities and a few differences emerged. This study provides the first insights into Attavante’s material practice and helps refine our knowledge of his technique and how much his style has actually changed over time.