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Heritage
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Study and Characterization of Paintings: Materials, Artistic Techniques, and Conservation
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Study and Characterization of Paintings: Materials, Artistic Techniques, and Conservation

A special issue of Heritage (ISSN 2571-9408). This special issue belongs to the section "Artistic Heritage".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 January 2023) | Viewed by 54144

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Valeria Di Tullio

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Guest Editor
Italian National Council of Research, Institute of Heritage Science (ISPC-CNR), Via Salaria Km 29,300, Area of Research Rome1, 00016 Montelibretti, Italy
Interests: paintings; natural and artificial lapideous materials; wood and cellulose; spectroscopy; nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR); artistic techniques; degradation phenomena; restoration products
Dr. Brenda Doherty

E-Mail
Guest Editor
Italian National Research Council (CNR) Institute of Chemical Sciences and Technologies “Giulio Natta” (SCITEC), via Elce di Sotto 8, Perugia, Italy
Interests: vibrational spectroscopy; surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy; organic colorants and pigments; natural and synthetic dyes; in-situ analyses

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Since ancient times, painting have been the most widespread form of man’s creative expression. Using a wide range of materials and complex techniques, painted artworks are an important historical and cultural testament that needs to be recognized and preserved for future generations.

The study of painting techniques, degradation processes, and restoration practices is, by nature, a multidisciplinary area of study, combining research in science, conservation, and art history as well as specific knowledge in painting manufacturing. Heritage science is increasingly indispensable in widening the attention given to all the aspects that affect the life of an artwork; in understanding the changing boundaries and interactions between its historical, aesthetic, and material value; as well in evaluating the interactions with the environmental conditions and planning the intervention of restoration.

Information about all these aspects can be gained by the analysis of the chemical and physical properties of the materials found in paintings in combination with the historical information reported in documentary sources and incorporated in the examination of individual paintings. When looking at numerous art objects, we can see that no two objects are really the same. Thus, a main aim of heritage science is to understand why each individual heritage object is so incredibly unique, not just because of its recognized value, but also because the manufacturing of and materials in each individual object are slightly different, and why they all degrade so differently.

This Special Issue aims to show a wide selection of contributions in the study of paintings as well as recent points of view to promote a greater understanding of the inherent complexity of paintings and stimulate innovative questions and discussions on this topic.

We welcome multidisciplinary collaborative studies and review manuscripts discussing different approaches to studying painting across a different combinations of artistic techniques, restoration practices, and material characterization, including both case studies and mock-ups. We also welcome manuscripts on the following selected topics:

  • The characterization, degradation, and restoration of painting supports such as wood, canvas, paper, parchment, plaster, and pottery.
  • The stratigraphy of painted artworks, artistic techniques, and restoration issues, and new techniques of analysis.
  • Degradation processes and the conservation of natural and synthetic organic binders, and their interaction with pigment particles.
  • Restoration issues, including varnishing and cleaning practices in paintings. Additionally, the history of, experimentation with, and evaluation of restoration products, as well as new perspectives of study.
  • Study of moisture and temperature in indoor and semiconfined environments for the collection care of paintings.
  • Ancient recipes and restoration practices and their impact on painting conservation.
  • Art history and materials science in studying the style and masterpieces of artists, artistic currents, and movements.

Dr. Valeria Di Tullio
Dr. Brenda Doherty
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. Heritage 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 1600 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

  • Paintings
  • Restoration
  • Chemistry
  • Art history
  • Material science
  • Painted artworks
  • Environment
  • Analytical chemistry

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Published Papers (15 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 12534 KiB  
Article
Revealing the Materials, Painting Techniques, and State of Preservation of a Heavily Altered Early 19th Century Greek Icon through MA-XRF
by Georgios P. Mastrotheodoros, Anastasios Asvestas, Theofanis Gerodimos and Dimitrios F. Anagnostopoulos
Heritage 2023, 6(2), 1903-1920; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage6020102 - 13 Feb 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3341
Abstract
Macroscopic X-ray fluorescence analysis (MA-XRF) is a non-destructive analytical technique that allows for the rapid and thorough investigation of paintings; therefore, it is nowadays increasingly involved in relevant studies. In the present work, a state-of-the-art MA-XRF set-up is utilized to identify the painting [...] Read more.
Macroscopic X-ray fluorescence analysis (MA-XRF) is a non-destructive analytical technique that allows for the rapid and thorough investigation of paintings; therefore, it is nowadays increasingly involved in relevant studies. In the present work, a state-of-the-art MA-XRF set-up is utilized to identify the painting materials and techniques and document the state of preservation of an early 19th-century AD Greek religious panel painting (“icon”). The artifact in consideration has received extensive restoration interventions in the past and is considerably decayed; for these reasons, the interpretation of the relevant MA-XRF elemental intensity distribution maps is challenging. In this framework, it is demonstrated how the elemental distribution maps can be explored and interpreted to lead to a thorough investigation of the painting in consideration. In particular, the MA-XRF data interpretation allowed for the identification of the original palette that includes the rather rarely employed–in icon painting-yellow lead-antimonate pigment, led to the spotting of an invisible inscription, to the documentation of the preparation/gesso layer and the preliminary drawing. Additionally, it was possible to discriminate between the original painting and the later interventions, while the collected data revealed that the painting originally had two cross-bars attached to its back. Ultimately, the presented case study can be utilized as a guide for the proper interpretation of MA-XRF data from decayed and altered icons. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Study and Characterization of Paintings: Materials, Artistic Techniques, and Conservation)
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17 pages, 8735 KiB  
Article
A Study on the Diagnosis Technology for Conservation Status of Painting Cultural Heritage Using Digital Image Analysis Program
by Tae Ho Eom and Hwa Soo Lee
Heritage 2023, 6(2), 1839-1855; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage6020098 - 9 Feb 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2130
Abstract
In order to objectively and quantitatively diagnose the conservation status of painting cultural heritages, a digital image analysis program was used for the digital image of a Korean Buddhist painting. A technical method for diagnosing the conservation status by analyzing the color space [...] Read more.
In order to objectively and quantitatively diagnose the conservation status of painting cultural heritages, a digital image analysis program was used for the digital image of a Korean Buddhist painting. A technical method for diagnosing the conservation status by analyzing the color space of the Buddhist painting and calculating the shape information and damage area was suggested. To verify the applicability of the program, a standard color chart on various ground materials was produced. Color difference values of color information obtained using a color meter and a digital image analysis program were compared. Work efficiency, according to image resolution, was evaluated. It was possible to work efficiently with a size similar to that of an FHD image. Through the comparative evaluation of the individual deviation by the user, the accuracy and temporal advantages of the method using the digital image analysis program could be confirmed. As a result of comparing by color region extraction conditions, it was confirmed that the error range of the measured color information decreased as the 25 pixel diameter circle (average of circled regions of interest) size region and the number of measurements increased. Color space information was adjusted according to the characteristics of each damage type, and the shape of the damage was classified. In addition, the conservation status was evaluated by quantitatively calculating the area of damage with the Intensity Mean of the divided shape image. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Study and Characterization of Paintings: Materials, Artistic Techniques, and Conservation)
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24 pages, 11112 KiB  
Article
Preliminary Identification of Mixtures of Pigments Using the paletteR Package in R—The Case of Six Paintings by Andreina Rosa (1924–2019) from the International Gallery of Modern Art Ca’ Pesaro, Venice
by Teodora Raicu, Fabiana Zollo, Laura Falchi, Elisabetta Barisoni, Matteo Piccolo and Francesca Caterina Izzo
Heritage 2023, 6(1), 524-547; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage6010028 - 9 Jan 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2710
Abstract
Frequently, the study of modern and contemporary paintings requires the taking of micro-samples to gain an in-depth understanding of the employed materials and techniques. However, since this procedure is characterized by its invasive nature, it must be carried out only if strictly necessary. [...] Read more.
Frequently, the study of modern and contemporary paintings requires the taking of micro-samples to gain an in-depth understanding of the employed materials and techniques. However, since this procedure is characterized by its invasive nature, it must be carried out only if strictly necessary. This study aimed to evaluate the potentiality of K-means clustering to the corrected images of paintings to identify mixtures of pigments. This could assist in obtaining relevant preliminary information, facilitate the research process, and guide the sampling collection. Additionally, this method would be less expensive than the traditional multi-analytical approach as it would only require a modified digital camera, lenses, a color target and three computational resources for the processing of data (Imatest Master, Adobe Express—online, and R), out of which the latter two are freely available. The six paintings that have been selected for this study belong to the International Gallery of Modern Art Ca’ Pesaro in Venice (Italy) and have been depicted by Andreina Rosa (1924–2019), a Venetian artist. The artworks were thoroughly investigated mainly through non-invasive analytical techniques (FORS, RAMAN, ER-FTIR, EDXRF). Using cluster analysis, simulating mixtures, and calculating the color differences, it was possible to infer the existence of color mixtures of two/three detected primary colors from the examined images, which could be validated by the analytical results. Hence, it was concluded that samples taken from mixtures might suffice, since primary colors would be concomitantly analyzed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Study and Characterization of Paintings: Materials, Artistic Techniques, and Conservation)
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13 pages, 8787 KiB  
Article
Mapping with Macro X-ray Fluorescence Scanning of Raffaello’s Portrait of Leo X
by Anna Mazzinghi, Chiara Ruberto, Lorenzo Giuntini, Pier Andrea Mandò, Francesco Taccetti and Lisa Castelli
Heritage 2022, 5(4), 3993-4005; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage5040205 - 6 Dec 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2012
Abstract
Raffaello is renowned as one of the Old Renaissance Masters and his paintings and painting technique are famous for the details and naturality of the characters. Raffaello is famous in particular for the then-new technique of oil painting, which he mastered and perfected. [...] Read more.
Raffaello is renowned as one of the Old Renaissance Masters and his paintings and painting technique are famous for the details and naturality of the characters. Raffaello is famous in particular for the then-new technique of oil painting, which he mastered and perfected. On the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the death of Raffaello (2020), there was a large exhibition at the Scuderie del Quirinale in Rome, where many paintings and drawings by the Old Master were on show. One of these paintings was the portrait of Leo X with two cardinals belonging to the collection of the Uffizi galleries in Florence. Before going to Rome, the painting underwent conservation treatments at the Opificio delle Pietre Dure, where a comprehensive diagnostic campaign was carried out with the aim of understanding the painting materials and technique of the Old Master. In this paper, the results of macro X-ray fluorescence (MA-XRF) analysis, carried out exploiting the instrument developed by INFN-CHNet, are shown. Among the results, “bismuth black” and the likely use of glass powders in lakes are discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Study and Characterization of Paintings: Materials, Artistic Techniques, and Conservation)
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15 pages, 10872 KiB  
Article
The Matter from Which an Orange Colour Is Made: On the Arsenic Pigment Used in a Portuguese Mannerist Painting
by António João Cruz, Helena P. Melo, Sara Valadas, Catarina Miguel and António Candeias
Heritage 2022, 5(3), 2646-2660; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage5030138 - 13 Sep 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2606
Abstract
The painting The Descent from the Cross, painted in 1620 by Pedro Nunes (1586–1637), presents two large figures with orange-coloured fabrics with conservation problems. Through the analysis of two samples with several analytical techniques, especially scanning electron microscopy combined with X-ray spectroscopy [...] Read more.
The painting The Descent from the Cross, painted in 1620 by Pedro Nunes (1586–1637), presents two large figures with orange-coloured fabrics with conservation problems. Through the analysis of two samples with several analytical techniques, especially scanning electron microscopy combined with X-ray spectroscopy and Raman microscopy, it was possible to conclude that the orange colour is due to a complex artificial pigment made of amorphous arsenic sulphide. It essentially consists of spherical particles obtained by sublimation and condensation, possibly from orpiment, which ended up being joined with irregularly shaped particles resulting from crushing of the residual fraction obtained by solidification and fusion. This is a rare documented case of the extensive use of artificial arsenic sulphides in European easel painting, especially outside Italy. The conservation problems can be explained by the great sensitivity of the arsenic sulphides to photodegradation and the formation of powdery compounds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Study and Characterization of Paintings: Materials, Artistic Techniques, and Conservation)
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19 pages, 54518 KiB  
Article
The Pigments of the Painter Fleury Richard (1777–1852), a Model for Multidisciplinary Study
by Davy Carole, Erika Wicky, Amina Bensalah-Ledoux, Stéphane Paccoud, Cécile Le Luyer, Anne Pillonnet and Gérard Panczer
Heritage 2022, 5(2), 1276-1294; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage5020066 - 7 Jun 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3676
Abstract
Fleury Richard was a colorist painter of the early 19th century. He practiced the oil technique inspired by the Renaissance at a time when advances in chemistry were introducing many new synthetic pigments. His color-mixing cabinet has been kept intact at the Musée [...] Read more.
Fleury Richard was a colorist painter of the early 19th century. He practiced the oil technique inspired by the Renaissance at a time when advances in chemistry were introducing many new synthetic pigments. His color-mixing cabinet has been kept intact at the Musée des Beaux Arts de Lyon. This original study is based on the analysis of more than 40 color powders using different spectroscopic techniques (X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Raman spectroscopy), color index estimation, and the comparison of the results obtained from three pictural works painted by the artist. It allows us (i) to identify and reference the pigmented powders and pictural choices in connection with historical manuscripts describing the artist’s practice, and (ii) to identify the most judicious analysis methods and question the difficulty of analyzing paintings in a non-destructive way, where pigments are put into a matrix and mixed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Study and Characterization of Paintings: Materials, Artistic Techniques, and Conservation)
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21 pages, 7118 KiB  
Article
Scientific Study of the Origin of the Painting from the Early 20th Century Leads to Pablo Picasso
by Marica Bakovic, Slobodanka Karapandza, Sajed Mcheik and Ana Pejović-Milić
Heritage 2022, 5(2), 1120-1140; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage5020060 - 28 May 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 5198
Abstract
This study applied multiple scientific approaches to establish the significance of an old work of art, Red Guitar, by examining its historical origin and the color materials used in its creation. Additionally, the study provides thus far unknown pieces of Olga Picasso’s [...] Read more.
This study applied multiple scientific approaches to establish the significance of an old work of art, Red Guitar, by examining its historical origin and the color materials used in its creation. Additionally, the study provides thus far unknown pieces of Olga Picasso’s family history to be added to her biography. Scientific approaches included digital X-ray radiography, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and elemental thermal conductivity analysis. This combination of techniques provided a broad confirmation as to when the painting was created. The artwork includes colors (white, black, blue, yellow, green, red, and brown/red) and prevalent use of lead- and iron-based historic pigments—chrome yellow, yellow ochre, and red ochre. It also documents the use of unconventional materials, such as the colorant Pigment Red 4, and nitrocellulose. This investigation led to the conclusion that the artwork, Red Guitar, is authentic and in accordance with Picasso’s work during the first two decades of the 20th century. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Study and Characterization of Paintings: Materials, Artistic Techniques, and Conservation)
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40 pages, 20218 KiB  
Article
Evolution of Liu Kang’s Palette and Painting Practice for the Execution of Female Nude Paintings: The Analytical Investigation of a Genre
by Damian Lizun, Teresa Kurkiewicz, Mateusz Mądry, Bogusław Szczupak and Jarosław Rogóż
Heritage 2022, 5(2), 896-935; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage5020050 - 20 Apr 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4293
Abstract
The comprehensive technical investigation of female nude paintings by the Singapore pioneer artist Liu Kang (1911–2004) provided the evidence for a discussion of the evolution of his palette of colours and his working process for expression in this genre, particularly the execution of [...] Read more.
The comprehensive technical investigation of female nude paintings by the Singapore pioneer artist Liu Kang (1911–2004) provided the evidence for a discussion of the evolution of his palette of colours and his working process for expression in this genre, particularly the execution of female bodies. As the artist’s free expression in classical nude paintings was limited by the censorship imposed by the Singapore government, the investigated artworks span two periods, 1927–1954 (early career) and 1992–1999 (the “golden years”, during which censorship policies were relaxed). Hence, eight paintings from the Liu family and National Gallery Singapore were selected for non- and micro-invasive analyses of the paint layers. The obtained results were supplemented with archival sources to elucidate certain aspects of Liu Kang’s working practice. The investigation revealed the importance of drawing and sketching studies in the development of artistic ideas. The analytical techniques, such as polarised light microscopy (PLM), field emission scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive spectroscopy (FE-SEM-EDS) and attenuated total reflectance–Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), enabled us to observe a transition from the yellow iron-based tonal ranges of skin colours to complex pigment mixtures composed of additions of cobalt blue, ultramarine, Prussian blue, Cr-containing yellow(s) and green(s), cadmium yellow, orange and/or red and organic reds, revealing the artist’s more liberal use of colours and his experimentation with their contrasting and complementary juxtaposes. In terms of painting technique, the artist’s comparatively laborious paint application using small brushes quickly gave way to a more effortless manipulation of the paint using bigger brushes and the incorporation of palette knives. Moreover, visible light (VIS), near-infrared (NIR) and X-ray radiography (XRR) imaging techniques led to the discovery of a hidden composition in one investigated artwork, which bears resemblance to the nude painting known only from an archival photograph. Additionally, for the first time, the archival search provided photographic evidence that Liu Kang used oil paint tubes from Royal Talens and Rowney in the 1990s. Overall, this in-depth investigation contributes to the understanding of Liu Kang’s approach to the female nude painting and may assist conservators and art historians in studies of twentieth-century commercial paints. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Study and Characterization of Paintings: Materials, Artistic Techniques, and Conservation)
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19 pages, 7543 KiB  
Article
The Art of Everyday Objects: A Non-Invasive In Situ Investigation of Materials and Techniques of Italian Pop Art Paintings on Aluminium
by Margherita Longoni, Norma Cicala, Vittoria Guglielmi, Gianluca Poldi and Silvia Bruni
Heritage 2022, 5(1), 42-60; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage5010003 - 23 Dec 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3758
Abstract
Two paintings, made on aluminium support by Silvio Pasotti (among the major exponents of 1960s Italian pop art) were investigated in a totally non-invasive manner to identify the materials used by the artist. Raman spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), visible reflectance spectroscopy, and [...] Read more.
Two paintings, made on aluminium support by Silvio Pasotti (among the major exponents of 1960s Italian pop art) were investigated in a totally non-invasive manner to identify the materials used by the artist. Raman spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), visible reflectance spectroscopy, and spectrofluorimetry with visible excitation were exploited as molecular analysis techniques, which are particularly suitable to recognise also synthetic organic materials, such as pigments and binders. The effectiveness of this multi-analytical approach was demonstrated, leading to the identification of several synthetic organic pigments, both conventional and “special effect” ones, introduced during the first half of the 20th century, as well as some well-established inorganic ones. Combining FTIR results both in the medium and near IR ranges, considerations regarding the binders employed by the artist could also be made, suggesting the use of both nitrocellulose and acrylic paints. Imaging techniques, such as IR reflectography, false colour IR, UV induced fluorescence, and portable microscopy, were also used to achieve a better knowledge of the painting practice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Study and Characterization of Paintings: Materials, Artistic Techniques, and Conservation)
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18 pages, 5194 KiB  
Article
On the Two Working Palettes of Almada Negreiros at DN Building in Lisbon (1939–1940): First Analytical Approach and Insight on the Use of Cd Based Pigments
by Milene Gil, Mafalda Costa, Ana Cardoso, Sara Valadas, Yigit Helvaci, Sriradha Bhattacharya, Patricia Moita and Antonio Candeias
Heritage 2021, 4(4), 4578-4595; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage4040252 - 3 Dec 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3307
Abstract
This paper reports the first analytical approach carried out on two working palettes by Portuguese modernist master Almada Negreiros, found in 1991 behind old wood cabinets at the DN building in Lisbon. This is the only known occasion Almada left behind the color [...] Read more.
This paper reports the first analytical approach carried out on two working palettes by Portuguese modernist master Almada Negreiros, found in 1991 behind old wood cabinets at the DN building in Lisbon. This is the only known occasion Almada left behind the color experiments done before starting to paint in the nearby walls and as such, it is a unique opportunity to analyze the materials and painting techniques that were originally used. The analytical setup comprised in loco technical photography in Vis, UVF and NIR; p-OM, spectrophotometry in Vis and h-EDXRF, complemented by OM-Vis, µ-FT-IR and VP-SEM-EDS of painting micro-samples and pigments in powder form. Preliminary results suggested the use of fresco painting technique and revealed some technical details, such as the use of a coarse lime sand finishing mortar mixed with natural vegetable fibers, and the extensive use of cadmium-based pigments that were not commonly used (or even recommended) in an alkaline environment. The Cd pigments were used alone or in mixtures with Fe based pigments in the warm hues and with cobalt and ultramarine blue pigments in some green paint layers. No clear evidence of organic materials that could have been used as binders was detected. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Study and Characterization of Paintings: Materials, Artistic Techniques, and Conservation)
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18 pages, 11190 KiB  
Article
Nondestructive Analysis of Wall Paintings at Ostia Antica
by Bernhard Blümich, Eleonora Del Federico, Denis Jaschtschuk, Markus Küppers, Katelin Fallon, Adelaide Steinfeld and Paolo Tomassini
Heritage 2021, 4(4), 4421-4438; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage4040244 - 20 Nov 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3392
Abstract
Roman wall paintings at Ostia Antica were studied for the first time in situ in an integrated approach using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) depth profiling, portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and visible induced luminescence (VIL) in order to explore the materials used in their [...] Read more.
Roman wall paintings at Ostia Antica were studied for the first time in situ in an integrated approach using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) depth profiling, portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and visible induced luminescence (VIL) in order to explore the materials used in their construction and gain insight into the evolution of the Roman painting technique over time. NMR revealed the signatures of covered wall paintings through details of the structure of the top painted mortar layers, and the loss of this information that can be encountered when paintings are detached from the wall for preservation purposes. XRF provided information about the pigment composition of the paintings, and VIL was used to identify Egyptian Blue. Egyptian Blue was only found in the earlier wall paintings studied dating from 1st century B.C.E. to the 1st century C.E. The pigment palette seems to become limited to iron-based pigments in the later paintings, whereas the palette of the earlier paintings appears to be more varied including mercury, lead, and copper-based pigments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Study and Characterization of Paintings: Materials, Artistic Techniques, and Conservation)
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27 pages, 31106 KiB  
Article
A Comprehensive and Systematic Diagnostic Campaign for a New Acquisition of Contemporary Art—The Case of Natura Morta by Andreina Rosa (1924–2019) at the International Gallery of Modern Art Ca’ Pesaro, Venice
by Anna Piccolo, Emanuele Bonato, Laura Falchi, Paola Lucero-Gómez, Elisabetta Barisoni, Matteo Piccolo, Eleonora Balliana, Dafne Cimino and Francesca Caterina Izzo
Heritage 2021, 4(4), 4372-4398; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage4040242 - 16 Nov 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3824
Abstract
A multi-analytical approach has been employed to investigate the painting Natura Morta (1954–1955) by Andreina Rosa (1924–2019) to assess the state of conservation and to understand more about the painting materials and techniques of this artwork, which was recently donated by the painter’s [...] Read more.
A multi-analytical approach has been employed to investigate the painting Natura Morta (1954–1955) by Andreina Rosa (1924–2019) to assess the state of conservation and to understand more about the painting materials and techniques of this artwork, which was recently donated by the painter’s heirs to the International Gallery of Modern Art Ca’ Pesaro (Venice-Italy). A comprehensive and systematic diagnostic campaign was carried out, mainly adopting non-invasive imaging and spectroscopic methods, such as technical photography, optical microscopy, Hyperspectral Imaging Spectroscopy (HIS), fiber optics reflectance spectroscopy (FORS), External Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared (ER-FTIR), and Raman spectroscopies. Microsamples, collected from the edges of the canvas in areas partially detached, were studied by Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). By crossing the information gained, it was possible to make inferences about the composition of the groundings and the painted layers, the state of conservation of the artwork, and the presence of degradation phenomena. Hence, the present study may be of interest for conservation purposes as well as for enhancing the artistic activity of Andreina Rosa. The final aim was to provide useful information for the Gallery which recently included this painting in its permanent collection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Study and Characterization of Paintings: Materials, Artistic Techniques, and Conservation)
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15 pages, 3811 KiB  
Article
Complex Relationships: A Materials Study of Édouard Vuillard’s Interior, Mother and Sister of the Artist
by Abed Haddad, Diana Hartman and Ana Martins
Heritage 2021, 4(4), 2903-2917; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage4040162 - 30 Sep 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3791
Abstract
Édouard Vuillard (1868–1949) is well known for his small atmospheric paintings, often portraying his own home and family as the subject matter. Interior, Mother and Sister of the Artist (1893) underwent at least one restoration treatment before being acquired by the Museum of [...] Read more.
Édouard Vuillard (1868–1949) is well known for his small atmospheric paintings, often portraying his own home and family as the subject matter. Interior, Mother and Sister of the Artist (1893) underwent at least one restoration treatment before being acquired by the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in 1934. The painting was treated again in 1954, but no analysis was carried out to understand the artist’s methods and materials at that time. To better understand the choices of Vuillard in Interior, Mother and Sister of the Artist, a comprehensive suite of imaging and spectroscopic analyses was undertaken, including: XRR, UVF and IRR Photography, XRF, Raman spectroscopy and SERS, and µ-FTIR. Statistical analysis on the XRF data using MCR-ALS further revealed some of the intricacies of Vuillard’s technique and color choices, where a large number of pigments were used in designing this intimate composition, including lead white, zinc white, bone black, ochre, umber, vermilion, Geranium lake, red lead, ultramarine, Prussian blue, chrome yellow, chrome orange, zinc yellow, strontium yellow, cadmium yellow, and a chromium oxide green. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Study and Characterization of Paintings: Materials, Artistic Techniques, and Conservation)
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17 pages, 5354 KiB  
Article
Multispectral Imaging and p-XRF for the Non-Invasive Characterization of the Anonymous Devotional Painting ‘Maria Santissima delle Grazie’ from Mirabella Imbáccari (Sicily, Italy)
by Antonella Privitera, Maria Francesca Alberghina, Elèna Privitera and Salvatore Schiavone
Heritage 2021, 4(3), 2320-2336; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage4030131 - 10 Sep 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3210
Abstract
This work presents the results of the in situ, non-invasive diagnostic investigations performed on the canvas oil painting depicting Madonna and Child, venerated as ‘Maria Santissima delle Grazie’ by the local religious community. The work of art (72 cm × 175 [...] Read more.
This work presents the results of the in situ, non-invasive diagnostic investigations performed on the canvas oil painting depicting Madonna and Child, venerated as ‘Maria Santissima delle Grazie’ by the local religious community. The work of art (72 cm × 175 cm) is located on the high altar of the main Church in Mirabella Imbáccari, near Catania (Sicily, Italy). The painter is anonymous, and the supposed dating is the late eighteenth century. Although the painting has never been studied before, it has been attributed to a Sicilian workshop in the literature, raising the doubts of the art historian who conducted this study and who hypothesized a Neapolitan manufacture. Furthermore, due to the good conservation state detected by a macroscopic examination, doubts also arose about dating. To shed light on these aspects, a technical-scientific examination proved necessary. Multispectral imaging techniques (IR Reflectography, UV-induced visible Fluorescence, X-ray) are carried out for the study of the execution technique, the identification of underlying remakes, sketch drawing and the evaluation of the conservation conditions. XRF spectrometry analysis is performed for the identification of the chemical elements constituting the pigments (inorganic chromophores). The diagnostic results allowed this research to confirm the dating suggested by the historical-stylistic knowledge and to highlight new technical peculiarities supporting the attribution to a Neapolitan workshop. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Study and Characterization of Paintings: Materials, Artistic Techniques, and Conservation)
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14 pages, 16863 KiB  
Article
Max Ernst’s Woman, Old Man, and Flower (1923–24): Four Paintings in One Revealed by Technical Imaging
by Ana Martins, Ellen Davis and Talia Kwartler
Heritage 2021, 4(3), 2224-2236; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage4030125 - 6 Sep 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3372
Abstract
Examining the painting Woman, Old Man, and Flower (1923–24) by Max Ernst with macro-X-ray fluorescence scanning (MA-XRF), X-ray radiography (XRR) as well as photography under ultraviolet (UVF), infrared reflected (IRR) and transmitted (IRT) illumination revealed the existence and sequence of three distinct paintings [...] Read more.
Examining the painting Woman, Old Man, and Flower (1923–24) by Max Ernst with macro-X-ray fluorescence scanning (MA-XRF), X-ray radiography (XRR) as well as photography under ultraviolet (UVF), infrared reflected (IRR) and transmitted (IRT) illumination revealed the existence and sequence of three distinct paintings concealed under the final composition. The study confirmed a known and previously documented intermediate composition and uncovered two additional states: a very first state exposed by XRR, and a third state revealed in the elemental distribution maps obtained by MA-XRF. The complimentary images document the insertion, mutation, and concealing of several human and anthropomorphic subjects across the four layers, expanding our understanding of the painting and of Ernst’s collage-like pictorial development. In addition, a list of pigments is proposed based on the elemental information provided by MA-XRF, contributing to the technical literature devoted to the materials of Ernst’s paintings during the transitional period between Dada and Surrealism. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Study and Characterization of Paintings: Materials, Artistic Techniques, and Conservation)
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