Multi-scale optical coherence tomography imaging and visualization of Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring

Callewaert, Tom; Guo, Jerry Jinfeng; Harteveld, Guusje; Vandivere, Abbie; Eisemann, Elmar; Dik, Joris; Kalkman, Jeroen

doi:10.1364/oe.390703

Cited by 16 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…When contrast and resolution of OCT are appropriate to image the material under study, as is the case for the reconstructions here, OCT imaging has the benefit of non-invasive application. It is also time efficient and applicable to large areas [18]. In future research, we do aim to apply our approach to other research questions including the analysis of historic paintings.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A custom written data-analysis pipe-line was used to extract size and spatial distributions of the ground glass particles from the 3D OCT images. In recent years, OCT has been more widely applied to visualize paint layers [16][17][18] including paint layers containing smalt [19]. Here, we extend our analysis to obtain quantitative parameters from OCT images.…”

Section: Introduction and Research Aimmentioning

confidence: 93%

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The use of ground glass in red glazes: structural 3D imaging and mechanical behaviour using optical coherence tomography and nanoindentation

et al. 2021

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In this study we investigate the impact of the addition of colourless glass particles to red glazes, as seen in many 15th-17th-century easel paintings. With the use of reconstructions, we examined the influence of the paint preparation process on the morphological and mechanical properties of the paint film. Three sets of reconstructions were made, a control without ground glass, reconstructions with coarse or fine ground glass mixed in, and reconstructions where fine ground glass was ground jointly with the pigment oil mixture. The latter gave the desired consistency and colour based on visual inspection. The dried reconstructions were non-invasively imaged using optical coherence tomography (OCT). A data-analysis pipeline was developed for both the segmentation of the OCT images and the measurement of the size and spatial distributions of the glass particles within the glaze layer. Moreover, we used a nanoindentation protocol to measure the viscoelastic properties of the dried red glaze film. The OCT results show an expected decrease in median particle size with longer grinding-time, for which the additional grinding with pigment/oil resulted in a more narrow size distribution and a homogenous spatial distribution of the glass particles. The nanoindentation results indicate that the addition of glass particles increases the elastic and viscous moduli of the red glaze layers. The homogeneous size distribution, obtained by grinding the oil, pigment, and glass together, induces higher elastic and viscous moduli. Our imaging and analyses approach, combining OCT and nanoindentation, provides a non-invasive and quantitative investigation of glass particles in (semi-) transparent paint layers, and their effect on the mechanical properties of the glaze. The results of this study contribute to a better understanding of the artists’ addition of ground glass in paint layers.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introduction and Research Aimmentioning

confidence: 93%

The use of ground glass in red glazes: structural 3D imaging and mechanical behaviour using optical coherence tomography and nanoindentation

et al. 2021

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“…It provides high-resolution cross-sectional tomograms of samples, which moderately scatter and/or absorb the probing light. In recent years, OCT has been used for the study of artworks [18][19][20][21][22][23] for the visualization of low-scattering varnish and semi-transparent paints, sometimes enabling the visualization of underdrawings.…”

Section: Optical Coherence Tomography (Oct)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Organic Patinas on Small Historical Bronzes: From Mock-Ups to Actual Artworks

Galeotti,

Porcinai,

Cagnini

et al. 2024

Coatings

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This paper deals with the study of organic coatings (patinas) on historical bronzes, specifically those applied on small-size statues in Renaissance workshops. These coatings, often transparent and translucent, contain a mixture of organic and inorganic components and may be still preserved in hidden parts of statues in indoor displays. However, the complexity of the original varnishes, their degradation and alteration over time, and the coexistence of materials added for conservation and maintenance purposes are challenging for their characterization. The often well-preserved surface of varnished bronzes and their small size make it mandatory to make the most of using noninvasive techniques for their investigation. To this end, to simulate the actual historical coatings, we prepared a set of mock-ups following ancient recipes and using materials that were available in the Renaissance. We used the samples to assess to what extent it is possible to disclose the formulation (binders, colourants, and other additives) and the thickness of a Renaissance patina with noninvasive methods. Microprofilometry (MP), optical coherence tomography (OCT), and eddy current (EC) gauge were tested on the samples and the results were combined with reflectance Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The analyses performed on the mock-ups set the ground for investigating a Renaissance bronze featuring reddish semi-transparent varnish layers. The achievements are discussed in this paper, along with the limitations of the use of a noninvasive approach.

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“…By repeating of such images in parallel, adjacent planes volume data is collected. The technique finds many applications in heritage science [35][36][37] especially for imaging sub-surface structure of paintings [38] but also historic glass [39] and other materials. Since the technique is fast and may be used on-site it was also used for monitoring of conservation treatments [40].…”

Section: Optical Coherence Tomographymentioning

confidence: 99%

Possible modifications of parchment during ion beam analysis

et al. 2022

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Ion beam analysis (IBA) is an established method to determine the concentration and the distribution of elements in art and archaeological objects. However, especially for organic specimens, caution must be taken to avoid harmful effects. In this work, the possible modification of recent calf parchment samples by proton beam irradiation was investigated applying fluences (given as deposited charge per unit area) both within and beyond the usual analytical practice. Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infra-red Spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR) and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) were employed to assess changes, inspected from the surface of the samples. Although both techniques are apt to detect alterations of parchment in general, in the case of particles, which deposit the majority of their energy below the surface these techniques could not detect changes at low fluences. However, a simple “bath test” (short immersion in liquid) proved that disintegration within the material had already happened. After the “bath test”, OCT and digital 3D microscopy were used to check the discontinuities in the material, especially for low fluences when the visual inspection might have missed them. Unfortunately, simply monitoring organic objects such as parchment during or after ion beam irradiation, non-destructively, is not sufficient to claim absolute harmlessness, as some studies in the past did. In line with our former findings using electron microscopy on cross sections, we found that 2.3 MeV protons with a deposited charge of 0.5 µC/cm2 caused no changes affecting the integrity of parchment but 2 µC/cm2 apparently did under the applied experimental conditions. To ensure the required analytical signal at a relatively low deposited charge, the detection system must be optimized for efficiency. Nevertheless, since the variability of the historic materials and the measurement set-ups are considerable, these values cannot be taken as absolutes, but only as guides, both for further IBA studies and for studies conducted in the past.

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Multi-scale optical coherence tomography imaging and visualization of Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring

Cited by 16 publications

References 29 publications

The use of ground glass in red glazes: structural 3D imaging and mechanical behaviour using optical coherence tomography and nanoindentation

The use of ground glass in red glazes: structural 3D imaging and mechanical behaviour using optical coherence tomography and nanoindentation

Organic Patinas on Small Historical Bronzes: From Mock-Ups to Actual Artworks

Possible modifications of parchment during ion beam analysis

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