Fine Art Examination and Conservation

Abstract

Science and connoisseurship come together in the examination and conservation of fine art. Chemical and physical analysis methods are used to examine art objects for a variety of purposes including the establishment of authenticity, schloarly investigation of the works, and evaluation of their state of preservation. Methods for analyzing the works are described and conservation scientists’ efforts in the field of preservation are discussed. Knowledge of the materials used for the creation of a work of art is invaluable for understanding how it was made, and how best to preserve it. Choosing appropriate treatments for a work of art requires knowledge of its chemical components and their deterioration mechanisms as well as how the artist applied them. Current research on the stablity of materials that have been used by artists and artists’ techniques is summarized. Examples of the application of scientific analysis of the investigation of artists’ working methods and the original appearance of works are given.

Synchrotron UV−Visible Multispectral Luminescence Microimaging of Historical Samples

“…Along with the use of luminescence to detect heterogeneity and diversity of materials in situ on cultural artifacts, luminescence microscopy has mainly been used as a visual, qualitative technique to help reveal the structures of complex layering or mixtures in micrometric samples, exploiting the differences in the color of emissions . The excitation range available for microscopic analysis was later expanded to the visible region with the use of dichroic filter cubes, which allowed the visualization and localization of certain organic binders and colorants …”