Component One: Background Research
Research into primary historical sources, analytical studies, and wall paintings replicas. The bibliographic research provided background information to the project team, and involved reviewing historical sources about the use of organic materials for painting on walls, as well as published analytical studies of wall paintings that included the identification of organic materials. The first component also included the cataloguing of wall paintings replica samples housed at the Laboratorio per l'affresco Elena e Leonetto Tintori. These replicas can be now be sorted by pigment, binder, and phase of application. (completed)

Component Two: Evaluation of Investigation Techniques
Identification of organic materials in wall paintings, using wall paintings replica samples of known composition. In addition to research and testing, this component includes the development of a methodology and approach to investigations ranging from noninvasive imaging techniques to invasive methods for studying organic materials in wall paintings. (ongoing)

Component Three: Application of the Methodology Application of the methodology developed to wall paintings case studies in order to illustrate its benefits. The case study sites selected must currently be undergoing conservation and must be able to provide examples of conservation problems where the understanding of organic materials is important for treatment development. (ongoing)