Novel Trends in the Characterization of Painting Materials and Their Alterations
A special issue of Coatings (ISSN 2079-6412). This special issue belongs to the section "Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 October 2026 | Viewed by 4
Special Issue Editors
Interests: non-destructive analytical techniques; portable spectroscopy; in situ analysis; CH materials characterization; machine learning and AI techniques; artefacts attribution
Interests: non-destructive analytical techniques; material characterization; chemometry; radioecology; irradiation applications
2. Department of Science and Technology for Cultural Heritage, Sapienza University of Rome, 1303 Rome, Italy
Interests: non-invasive portable techniques such as X-ray spectroscopy; multispectral imaging and MA-XRF applied to cultural heritage
Interests: CH materials historical recipes; technology of artefacts production; functional materials; surface image analysis; mechanical properties; composites
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Besides its aesthetic, artistic, material, and emotional value, a painting also preserves interesting information about the time and techniques of its creation, as well as its preservation over time. Starting from the painting support, through preparation (ground) layers, underlayers (underpainting), drawing, paint layers, and top coatings (glaze and varnish), we can observe the range of decisions made in the process of creating paintings. A complex structure of the painting layers can be observed in terms of material characterization, layer interactions and alterations, and painting techniques employed.
The aim of this Special Issue is to collect contributions that bridge the scientific analysis of painting materials and conservation methods, as well as their impact on the field of art history. Modern scientific techniques can provide valuable information about the materials used in the artwork creation process, as well as the painting technique, material degradation, and artwork alteration, which can be crucial in restoration/conservation procedures and in art history interpretations.
We welcome original research, reviews, and case studies that highlight imaging techniques, non-destructive, micro-destructive, and analytical methods applied to samples, as well as innovative analytical protocols. Multidisciplinary studies, which include AI-supported analysis of the analytical results, are also welcome. We also welcome manuscripts on the following selected topics:
- Painting materials characterization;
- Non-destructive analytical methods in cultural heritage;
- Micro-destructive and methods applied to samples of the painting layers;
- Innovative techniques and protocols in painting examination;
- Alteration examination for conservation protocols improvements;
- Machine learning and AI-supported analytical results interpretation;
- Methods and techniques for painting attribution and forgery detection;
- Art history interpretations based on the analytical results.
Dr. Maja D. Gajic-Kvascev
Dr. Velibor Andric
Prof. Stefano Ridolfi
Prof. Dr. Radmila Jančić-Heinemann
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Coatings is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- painting materials
- painting layers
- non-destructive analytical techniques
- microanalytical techniques
- portable spectroscopy
- in-situ analysis
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
