Non-destructive exploration of late Gothic panel painting using X-ray tomography and flattening of the reconstructed data

Vavřı́k, Daniel; Antušková, Václava; Chlumská, Štěpánka; Kumpová, Ivana; Šefců, Radka; Vopálenský, Michal

doi:10.1140/epjp/s13360-023-04212-w

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 6 publications

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“…In the last step, the book block was virtually straightened according to this found area. Basically, this involves the transformation of the coordinate system, see [10,11], which is de ned according to the page shape found. The result is signi cantly improved readability of the text.…”

Section: Testing the Ability To Read A Closed Book Based On Tomograph...mentioning

confidence: 99%

The use of X-ray computed tomography and X-ray fluorescence in research into historical printing from the 17 th century

Neoralová,

Kazanskii,

Kindlerová

et al. 2023

Preprint

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This work presents the use of X-ray computed tomography and X-ray fluorescence in analyses and expert surveys of historical manuscripts and early prints. Historic early prints and manuscripts retain much information about their origins, owners and creators, or various defects hidden in the book binding or hidden between layers of material. The Department of Research Laboratories of the National Library of the Czech Republic has long been involved in non-invasive methods of making visible and documenting information that is not available during normal historical or restoration research. The book that was selected for the survey was a 17th-century historical print of the collection of the Slavic Library originally from Kiev, with the full title Eukhologīon albo Molitoslov, ili Trebnik. The main purpose of the survey was to confirm whether the book binding is original or whether it is a rebinding, and whether there are no fragments of older texts in the binding. Radiography was unable to provide sufficient quality documents confirming or refuting the binding or the presence of layers in the book binding carrying the text. Computed tomography made it possible to display detailed structure of bookbinding materials, including wooden boards. No fragments or layers with older texts were found in the structure of the book binding therefore, there is no need for invasive intervention. All binding elements were visible and no internal defects in materials and stitching were detected. The possibility of reading text in a closed book based on X-ray computed tomography will be presented, as this option may be advantageous for massively damaged manuscripts. Thanks to a very detailed representation of the wood structure using tomography, it was possible to carry out a dendrochronological survey without invasive intervention. Dendrochronological analysis confirmed the original bookbinding materials corresponding to the age of early printing. As part of the survey, an elemental analysis of the font was also carried out using an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer. The letters in the CT reconstruction have significantly different contrasts. The different elemental composition of the printing inks was verified using XRF analysis.

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Section: Testing the Ability To Read A Closed Book Based On Tomograph...mentioning

confidence: 99%

The use of X-ray computed tomography and X-ray fluorescence in research into historical printing from the 17 th century

Neoralová,

Kazanskii,

Kindlerová

et al. 2023

Preprint

Self Cite

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Enabling 3D CT-scanning of cultural heritage objects using only in-house 2D X-ray equipment in museums

Bossema,

Palenstijn,

Heginbotham

et al. 2024

Nat Commun

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Visualizing the internal structure of museum objects is a crucial step in acquiring knowledge about the origin, state, and composition of cultural heritage artifacts. Among the most powerful techniques for exposing the interior of museum objects is computed tomography (CT), a technique that computationally forms a 3D image using hundreds of radiographs acquired in a full circular range. However, the lack of affordable and versatile CT equipment in museums, combined with the challenge of transporting precious collection objects, currently keeps this technique out of reach for most cultural heritage applications. We propose an approach for creating accurate CT reconstructions using only standard 2D radiography equipment already available in most larger museums. Specifically, we demonstrate that a combination of basic X-ray imaging equipment, a tailored marker-based image acquisition protocol, and sophisticated data-processing algorithms, can achieve 3D imaging of collection objects without the need for a costly CT imaging system. We implemented this approach in the British Museum (London), the J. Paul Getty Museum (Los Angeles), and the Rijksmuseum (Amsterdam). Our work paves the way for broad facilitation and adoption of CT technology across museums worldwide.

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The use of computed tomography and X-ray fluorescence analysis in the research of printed book from the seventeenth century: book binding, tomographic reading of the text, dendrochronological dating, pigments analysis

Vavřík,

Kazanskii,

Neoralová

et al. 2024

Herit Sci

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This paper presents the use of X-ray computed tomography and X-ray fluorescence in the analysis and expert research of the seventeenth century printed book "Eukhologīon albo Molitoslov, ili Trebnik" from Kiev. The main purpose of the survey was to confirm whether the book binding is original or whether it is a rebinding, and whether there are any fragments of the hidden older texts. Commonly used radiography is usually not able to provide sufficient information for these purposes. On the other hand, computed tomography allows a detailed and three-dimensional documentation of the bookbinding technology and the structure of the materials used, including the wooden boards. It will be presented that all elements of the weave are clearly visible, making it possible to show that there are no internal defects in the stitching and materials. It has also been convincingly shown that there are no fragments or layers of older texts in the binding, so no further invasive intervention will be necessary regarding this aspect. The paper also demonstrates the possibility of reading the text in a closed book utilising X-ray computed tomography data; this option may be advantageous for massively damaged manuscripts. It will also be shown, that thanks to detailed tomographic imaging of the wood structure of the boards, a dendrochronological survey can be successfully carried out without invasive intervention into their outer layers. From the CT data it was also found that the pigments of the letters have significantly different densities. Therefore, as part of the survey, elemental analysis of the writing was also carried out using a portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer to confirm and clarify this finding.

show abstract

Non-destructive exploration of late Gothic panel painting using X-ray tomography and flattening of the reconstructed data

Cited by 4 publications

References 6 publications

The use of X-ray computed tomography and X-ray fluorescence in research into historical printing from the 17 th century

The use of X-ray computed tomography and X-ray fluorescence in research into historical printing from the 17 th century

Enabling 3D CT-scanning of cultural heritage objects using only in-house 2D X-ray equipment in museums

The use of computed tomography and X-ray fluorescence analysis in the research of printed book from the seventeenth century: book binding, tomographic reading of the text, dendrochronological dating, pigments analysis

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