A Multi-Analytical Study of an Ancient Egyptian Limestone Stele for Knowledge and Conservation Purposes: Recovering Hieroglyphs and Figurative Details by Image Analysis

Cavaleri, Tiziana; Legnaioli, Stefano; Lozar, Francesca; Comina, Cesare; Poole, Federico; Pelosi, Claudia; Spoladore, Alessia; Castelli, Daniele; Palleschi, Vincenzo

doi:10.3390/heritage4030066

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 12 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The study of the biodiversity and abundance of these nannofossils could provide information about the geographical distribution of these organisms 10,11 , and therefore, it can provide clues to identify the origin of the materials along with determining a chalk trade market source 12 . Just as studies of nannofossils have provided indications of the origin of objects of cultural heritage, such as medieval mortars 13 and Egyptian hieroglyphic 14 . Ground materials and white pigments could have different optical properties 9,15 , and the fabrication process of lead white could result in subtypes of the crystalline lead carbonate in the pigment.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Multidisciplinary approach to the study of large-format oil paintings

Calderón-Mesén

Jaikel-Víquez

Barrantes-Madrigal

et al. 2023

Sci Rep

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Cultural heritage has become a keystone for comprehending our society, as it represents and reflects our origins, passions, beliefs and traditions. Furthermore, it provides fundamental information about specific temporary spaces, materials’ availability, technology, artist’s intention, and site weather conditions. Our aim was to develop a multidisciplinary approach with a main focus on investigating two Italian large-format paintings located in highly diverse environments such as the National Theater of Costa Rica. We monitored environmental conditions and quantified fungal aerial spores. Then, we determined regions of possible biodeterioration with the software MicroorganismPattern and used the software PigmentArrangement to elucidate the apparent colour of the paintings based on distribution and arrangement of the pigment crystals. Finally, we characterized eight genera of calcareous nannofossils found in the ground layers of the artwork. The former Men’s Canteen at the National Theater of Costa Rica presented a mean air temperature of 23.5 $$^{\circ }$$ ∘ C, a relative humidity of 72.7% and a concentration of CO$$_{2}$$ 2 of 570 ppm. The fungal aerial concentration was 1776 spores/m$$^{3}$$ 3 . The software MicroorganismPattern identified 32 sampling regions, out of which 11 were positive for microbial contamination. The software PigmentArrangement determined that the blue crystals (ultramarine pigment) had the shortest distances between themselves (29 $$\upmu$$ μ m). Finally, the nanofossils identified enabled us to restrict the age of the material to a biostratigraphic interval ranging from Coniacian to Maastricthian ages. By using a multidisciplinary approach we were able to explore the diptych, suggest a set of minimally invasive perspectives in tropical environments to be used worldwide and obtain key information about the artist’s artistic process, materials used along with better understand its state of conservation.

show abstract

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Multidisciplinary approach to the study of large-format oil paintings

Calderón-Mesén

Jaikel-Víquez

Barrantes-Madrigal

et al. 2023

Sci Rep

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The development of geophysical techniques, the improvement of their performances, of the resolution of sensors and devices and the increasing availability of user-friendly data/image analysis, and processing, softwares and routines have contributed to facilitate their use in cultural heritage [3][4]. Their non-invasive characteristics, their good resolution power from micro-to macroscopic investigations and their versatility made them perfect to be used both in small-sized [5][6][7][8][9] (columns, statues, sculptures etc.) and in situ targets (building facades or foundations) [10][11][12][13][14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Among the available geophysical techniques, seismic methods, and in particular ultrasonic tests are the most used in the field of diagnostics on historical buildings and artworks [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]. This methodology is based on the evaluation of apparent propagation velocities of an ultrasonic impulse through the medium.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experiences and preliminary results of geophysical methods on historical statues

Vagnon

Comina

Canepa

et al. 2023

IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth Environ. Sci.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In recent years, geophysical applications have been significantly grown in rock mechanics field due to their versatility and reliability as diagnostic and/or monitoring tools. Since these methodologies are mainly non-invasive, they can be used for the investigation and characterization of the internal structure of historical artworks or for the monitoring of built cultural heritage, where the non-destructive feature is an indispensable prerequisite. Commonly, the artworks material properties are unknown or strongly altered due to time and physical/chemical agents. Moreover, their nature (mineralogic and petrographic) and origin (in terms of places where the material was exploited) is uncertain and difficult to allocate. Among the available geophysical techniques, seismic methods are useful for detecting the thickness or position of weathered layers, for estimating the physical properties of different materials and for providing information about cracking and degree of fracturing. In this paper, we present some experiences and preliminary results of geophysical characterization of two Tritons statues, discovered in the garden of the Royal Palace of Venaria (Piedmont Region, Italy). The statues were originally part of the Fountain of Hercules, destroyed in the 18th century during the redevelopment works of the Palace. Ultrasonic pulse velocity measurements were performed on each portion of the statues and 3D-imaging of the apparent P-wave velocity were carried out. The performed geophysical investigations were aimed at defining the overall material quality and detecting possible sectors with low resistance properties that might interfere with the coring operations, necessary for the reassembly of the statues. Results of these surveys were also useful for setting up a 3D-FEM model for simulating the material behaviour through an analysis of the forces and loads involved.

show abstract

“…The multi-technique approach is, indeed, considered the state-of-the-art for the scientific investigation of cultural heritage. It allows for exploiting the complementarity of the results of different analyses, so that an extended knowledge of the artwork can be inferred [6][7][8][9]. Considering the great material variability of an artwork and the importance of data complementarity, it is mandatory to carry out point analyses with different techniques on the same points and collect multiband images and/or hyperspectral cubes to combine different information [10][11][12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Giovanna Garzoni Miniaturist at the Savoy Court: Imaging and Materials Investigations to Discover the Painting Technique

Gargano

Interlenghi²,

Cavaleri

et al. 2023

Applied Sciences

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The exhibition “The Ladies of Art”, held at the Palazzo Reale in Milan in 2021, focused on the history of women artists during the 16th and 17th centuries. As part of the exhibition, a series of diagnostic analyses have been carried out on two paintings, thanks to the collaboration of several research institutions. The considered artworks consist of two paintings on parchments, realized by Giovanna Garzoni at the Savoy Court in the 17th century. Diagnostic analyses were performed using different, complementary, and non-invasive techniques: high-resolution multiband imaging, hyperspectral imaging, optical microscopy, X-ray fluorescence, and FORS spectrometry, combined with advanced post-processing techniques, in order to map and distinguish the pigments and the underdrawing of both the paintings. This research is the first conducted on these paintings and one of the few on the entire works of this important miniaturist. The results showed an incredibly meticulous painting technique, with a detailed metal point underdrawing and painstaking brushstrokes to describe the details with a high degree of realism. Precious materials, such as gold and lapislazuli, were identified and mapped. The findings of this work represent a new contribution of knowledge, which helps to lessen the lack of information for systematic studies on the artistic production of G. Garzoni.

show abstract

A Multi-Analytical Study of an Ancient Egyptian Limestone Stele for Knowledge and Conservation Purposes: Recovering Hieroglyphs and Figurative Details by Image Analysis

Cited by 5 publications

References 12 publications

Multidisciplinary approach to the study of large-format oil paintings

Multidisciplinary approach to the study of large-format oil paintings

Experiences and preliminary results of geophysical methods on historical statues

Giovanna Garzoni Miniaturist at the Savoy Court: Imaging and Materials Investigations to Discover the Painting Technique

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About