A brief review of Mössbauer effect spectroscopy (MES) is given, especially with regard to iron and its compounds. While most workers have used a transmission geometry which requires sample preparation, MES may also be performed by scattering. Thus, surface analysis is possible with no sampling or damage to an artifact or work of art. A special detector for efficiently accomplishing this has been constructed. We have surveyed various artists' pigments, in bulk as well as in situ and found that MES leads to a useful classification. Terra cotta statuary, which generally contains 5-10% iron, has also been surveyed. Other workers have examined pottery (using transmission geometry) with interesting results.