Study of ‘Cona degli Ordini’ by Colantonio with IR and XRF Analyses

Abstract

Two paintings by the Neapolitan Renaissance painter Colantonio were studied with two non-invasive techniques to enrich the technical–scientific documentation. Infrared reflectography (IR) and x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyses were performed on Saint Jerome in the studio and Saint Francis delivering the Rule, paintings preserved in the Museo e Real Bosco di Capodimonte. The IR scanning was performed to look beyond the visible layers of the paint for the preparatory drawings and pentimenti, or changes made during the painting process. The XRF technique was applied in many points to determine the elemental composition and enable the identification of pigments and materials used in paint and in the preparatory layers. Elemental XRF mapping was also carried out on a region of particular interest. Results provide an initial overview and hypothesis of color palette and techniques used by the artist.

Combining Multispectral Imaging and XRF Analysis to Examine San Patroba predica ai fedeli di Pozzuoli by Massimo Stanzione

“…Multispectral imaging was performed to reveal details about the painting surface (varnish, pigments, and presence of underdrawings) [32][33][34]. The system used was a Sam-sung NX500 Digital Camera 28 MPX (APS-CMOS BSI) designed by Madatec Srl to acquire images from different light sources.…”

“…The combination of smalt with a copper-based pigment can be related to different intentions by the artist. Shades can be carried out with a copper-based pigment [33] and smalt can be added to accelerate the drying processes of the oil [47,51]. At the upper right margin of the canvas, the green drape (point 18) has a high concentration of copper and traces of antimony (Sb).…”

Double-Relief Silver Coins Minted in the Greek Colonies (444–390/340–280/270 BC) of Southern Italy Analysed by XRF

“…XRF has proven to be the basic analytical technique in cultural heritage studies [5][6][7][8] because it provides key information about the objects under study in a reliable, rapid and non-invasive manner. It is now recognised that XRF spectrometry could have a wider application in studies of metal objects [9][10][11] and ancient coins [12,13]; also, if its results are not sufficient, it can help to carry out a preliminary screening to determine which artefact should be subjected to other more expensive and invasive analyses [14]. The XRF technique also allows the determination of the concentration, depth distribution and trace elements, which are useful for quantifying many features of an object [15,16].…”