The identification and characterization of proteinaceous materials in art artifacts is of twofold interest: to retrace, in objective terms, the working techniques of a particular painting; and to define a possible restoration and conservation program for the work under consideration. The analytical problems that need to be addressed, however, in this type of study, are not simple because of the very small amount of material that is generally made available for analysis, the possible simultaneous presence of proteinaceous materials of different origins, and the possible degradation of the original material as a result of aging and/or pollution. These aspects will be traversed and highlighted during this talk in which reference will be made essentially to the results obtained over the past decade by the speaker’s research group.

Gennaro Marino, member of Accademia Nazionale delle Scienze detta dei XL and Prof. emeritus of the University of Naples “Federico II” (formerly Professor of Chemistry and Biotechnology of Fermentations).

Gennaro Marino’s scientific activity has covered aspects ranging from enzyme catalysis, protein chemistry, and microbial biotechnology. From 1966 he began working on the applications of mass spectrometry to protein chemistry, becoming one of the pioneers in Italy of the studies and applications of this methodology in the field of biological molecules. He also created an international reference center for mass spectrometry equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation and a school of proteomics with students occupying prominent positions in prestigious research centers in Italy and abroad. More recently, Marino was the first in Italy to apply proteomics to the study of artifacts of cultural heritage interest.

 The conference will be held on the Zoom platform. Write to segreteria@accademiaxl.it to receive login credentials.