The oxidation of quercetin (3,3',4',5,7-pentahydroxyflavone) and luteolin (3',4',5,7-tetrahydroxyflavone) has been studied. These intensively coloured polyphenolic compounds belong to a large group of naturally occuring flavonoid compounds. They were used with advantage as colourants in old tapestries. The study concerns the analysis of degradation processes of the original dyes. Degradation products formed during the ageing process can be used as fingerprints for the determination of the original colours. The degradation processes of flavonoid compounds were studied by electrochemical methods, absorption spectrometry and separation methods in aqueous media. The oxidation mechanism involves electron transfer coupled with chemical reaction and is influenced by the acidobasic properties of quercetin. The dissociation constants pK1 and pK2 of quercetin and pK1 and pK2 of luteolin were determined by combining of independent methods: acid-base titration and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The stability of both compounds significantly depends on the presence of the oxygen. The distribution of the oxidation products of quercetin in aqueous media within the exposure to oxygen was monitored by LC-MS/MS and LC- DAD analysis.