Characterization of materials used in the execution of historic oil paintings by XRD, SEM-EDS, TGA and LIBS analysis

Abstract

In this study, material characteristics of historic oil paintings in a 19th century church in Ayvalık/Turkey were investigated to propose the treatments to be used in their conservation and protection. For this purpose, physical, chemical and mineralogical compositions and the microstructure of the paintings were determined by X-ray Diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscope, Thermo Gravimetric Analyzer, Differential Scanning Calorimeter, Infrared Spectroscopy and Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy. Analysis results showed that the paintings were composed of very thin binding and white priming layers on which the pigments were applied. Binding layers were composed of polymerized vegetable oil with Zinc Oxide. Priming layers were composed of anglesite mineral in polymerized vegetable oil.Pigments used in paintings were mainly green earth, red chrome and iron oxide.

Statistical Feature-Based Craquelure Classification

“…5 In Otsu thresholding scheme, the histogram is divided to two: C 0 (background) and C 1 (foreground) where C 0 ¼ 1; . .…”

“…1,2 Fracture can be induced by constantly changing environmental forces such as humidity that results in expansion and contraction of objects. This forcing dynamics may form patterns, such as in soil cracks, 3 ceramic cracks, 4 and even painting cracks, 5 collectively referred to as craquelures.…”

Holographic Interferometry (HI), Infrared Vision and X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy for the assessment of painted wooden statues: a new integrated approach

“…In this work, an integration between non-destructive [3], [4] and micro-destructive [5] techniques was performed, which can be considered as an innovative approach owing to the original combination of methods, as well as for the object under examination, i.e. a painted structure in cedar wood restored long time ago [6], named the Virgin with her Child (XIV century).…”

Surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and complementary techniques applied for the investigation of an Italian cultural heritage canvas

“…Analytical methodologies that require minimum sampling or no sampling at all have been preferred, due to the unique nature of most artwork investigated. Generally, infrared spectroscopy (recently using synchrotron radiation) and chromatographic techniques are preferred for the characterization of organic materials, while techniques such as X‐ray diffraction or laser‐induced breakdown plasma are considered adequate for the study of inorganic art constituents. The main disadvantages of such techniques are their destructive nature and the relatively large amount of sample required, mainly in the cases where a combined analytical procedure is applied.…”