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Fiber Optics Reflectance Spectroscopy in the Entire VIS-IR Range: a Powerful Tool for the Non-invasive Characterization of Paintings

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

M. Bacci ,
R. Bellucci ,
C. Cucci ,
C. Frosinini ,
M. Picollo ,
S. Porcinai  and
B. Radicati
M. Bacci
Affiliation:
Istituto di Fisica Applicata “Nello Carrara” – CNR – Florence, Italy
R. Bellucci
Affiliation:
Opificio delle Pietre Dure, Florence, Italy
C. Cucci
Affiliation:
Istituto di Fisica Applicata “Nello Carrara” – CNR – Florence, Italy
C. Frosinini
Affiliation:
Opificio delle Pietre Dure, Florence, Italy
M. Picollo
Affiliation:
Istituto di Fisica Applicata “Nello Carrara” – CNR – Florence, Italy
S. Porcinai
Affiliation:
Opificio delle Pietre Dure, Florence, Italy
B. Radicati
Affiliation:
Istituto di Fisica Applicata “Nello Carrara” – CNR – Florence, Italy
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Abstract

Fiber optics reflectance spectroscopy (FORS) in the entire 380 – 11, 000 nm range has been used to non-invasively characterize Leonardo's painting Madonna of the Yarnwinder. A preliminary analysis of the recorded spectra made it possible to obtain useful information concerning the pigments used, previous restoration work, the preparatory layer, and the binding medium. In particular, it was found that Thénard's blue was used in a previous restoration instead of the original ultramarine. As regards the painting technique, typical spectral features of oil binding medium are present in the mid-IR spectra, while near IR spectra reveal the occurrence of clay in the preparatory layer.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 852 , 2004 , OO2.4
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2005

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References

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