Pyrolysis gas chromatography (PyGC) has become a powerful technique for the characterization of nonvolatile materials. It has been widely used in forensic science and industrial laboratories, but its application to conservation has been limited, due to the compositional complexity and small sample size of the materials available for examination. Further, the absence of a reliable compound reference library for identification of major materials in art works has restricted comparative studies on actual artifacts. The use of PyGC for the general study of materials (e.g., drying oils, amber, natural resins) is reviewed and specific examples are given to provide an introduction to applications of this technique in art and archaeology. -- AATA