Looks can be deceiving: not just chalk in chalk. Analysis of the materials of Madonnari art by XRPD and ATR-FTIR

The characterisation of painting materials is a very special aspect aimed at a greater understanding of the painting technique adopted, the definition of different types of workability and the durability of the artwork. This last feature is the peculiarity of Madonnara art: a particular ephemeral category of street art that entails the use of materials not intended to last over time. The study first involved the professionalism of curators and artists involved in the Arte Madonnara Festival, conceived in 1973 in Grazie di Curtatone (Mantua, Italy), where a 24-hour international art competition takes place annually. Usually, these street paintings are realised on the cobbles or asphalt, nevertheless there is an increasing intention to use mobile substrates, consequently, can be preserved and musealised. Within this research, for the first time, both home-made materials, reclaimed materials and commercial ‘chalks’ used by some Madonnari artists were investigated.