Micro-XRF investigations of Books of Hours: Analyses of blue pigments in illuminated manuscript leaves from Books of Hours made in France in the 15th century

This application note introduces findings from the analyses of two illuminated manuscript leaves in the collection of the Yoshino Gypsum Art Foundation (hereafter referred to as “the Foundation”) using a HORIBA XGT-9000 X-ray Analytical Microscope. Among the Foundation’s elemental analysis investigations into the pigments used in the two leaves, this application note highlights the analysis results of the blue pigments and also the interpretation on the results. The interpretation is quoted from the Foundation’s publication.