Gas chromatography (GC) has advantages over paper and thin-layer chromatography, which compensate for its cost and time spent in manipulation of the sample. It is the technique of first choice in analyzing organic components in museum objects, followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Brief comments on identification of proteins and waxes precedes discussion of oils and fats, particularly in regard to use in paint media. Several examples illustrate how mass spectrometry is applied to the detection of resins. -- AATA