Non-invasive sub-surface analysis of the male portrait underlying the Titian’s Studio Ecce Homo

Abstract

The present study discusses new research on the analysis of a portrait of a male figure discovered under the painting of Ecce Homo, attributed to the studio of Titian (ca. 1488Titian (ca. -1576, with an estimated date in the 1550s. The portrait was examined with non-invasive methods: X-ray radiography (XRR), digital microscopy and micro-XRF. The examination of XRR images exposed the details of the painting's underlying depiction, which according to the details preserved appears to be a completed or nearly finished portrait of a standing man. The application of digital microscopy on the Ecce Homo painting's cracks enabled the identification of the work's stratigraphy. Micro-XRF performed on selected spots allowed to identify lead white, vermilion, red iron oxide, umber, carbon black and copper green in the underlying portrait. The described investigation methodology was guided by the close visual analysis of the Ecce Homo work and proved to be effective in the identification of the pigments of the hidden painting and the reconstruction of its colour palette.

Revealing the unseen: advanced digital imaging and spectroscopy for the documentation and non-invasive analysis of a 16th-century Cypriot composite icon

“…Through utilizing scientific and technological advances in the broader field of art characterization, the study of the history and provenance of paintings after their original creation has emerged as an exciting field of discovery and new knowledge within art history. We are now able to closely study the history of the preservation of paintings but also the choices related to various repainting and retouching efforts through time [30]. Such approaches are invaluable in efforts to study the layered history of composite icons.…”

Enhancing hyperspectral imaging through macro and multi-modal capabilities

“…In the last 50 years, scientific and technological advancements have played a pivotal role in changing the way cultural heritage (CH) artworks are studied [1][2][3]. Scientific methodologies, ranging from cutting-edge imaging technologies to meticulous material analysis, have become indispensable tools in the hands of conservators and archaeologists, helping them in getting valuable information on the preservation status of the CH objects [4][5][6] and in unravelling the mysteries of historical artifacts and artworks [7][8][9]. Among the different non-invasive techniques, hyperspectral imaging (HSI) has emerged as an effective tool, providing remarkable insights into the study of diverse artifacts and historical objects [10,11].…”