Numerous applications of Raman microscopy in art history and conservation science have appeared in the literature, but unfortunately this work has gone largely unrecognized by practitioners in those fields. This article assesses the causes of this situation and seeks to inform conservators, art historians and archaeologists of the role that Raman microscopy is playing in the analysis of historical materials. A brief description of the Raman scattering phenomenon and the instrumentation used to collect Raman spectra is presented, and the capabilities and limitations of the technique are discussed. Importantly, a comprehensive and critical review is provided of Raman microscopy applications in the technical analysis of art and artefacts.