Electron scanning (REM) in combination with local analysis is one of the modern non-destructive characterisation methods which are used in particular in material investigative research. These methods have not been used extensively so far in Czechoslovakia for the investigation of historical art objects, perhaps because they are relatively expensive. The aim of this report is a brief description of their principle and a demonstration of theit possibilities through come of the results acquired in the investagative research of five panel paintings by MAster Theodoric.