The ultraviolet and fluorescence study of paintings and manuscripts.

Practical notes on ultraviolet technical photography for art examination

“…Specialized companies can remove this filter and then the camera is said to be modified full spectrum. The full-spectrum camera may then be used successfully to acquire broadband images in the infrared and ultraviolet regions, which can reveal information such as underdrawing, pentimenti and retouches in paintings [1][2][3][4]; enhance the reading of faded wall paintings [5]; or be used for archaeological documentation [6]. These technical photos can also provide preliminary spectral information regarding the identification of materials [7] based on their characteristic response in the different radiation wavebands.…”

An attempt to push back frontiers – digital near-ultraviolet aerial archaeology

“…Because optical glass does not generally transmit much UV and mostly becomes opaque to EM radiation below 350 nm (Arnold et al, 1971;Cronin et al, 1968;Eastman Kodak Company, 1961;Hansell, 1968;Hansell and Lunnon, 1984;Mairinger, 2000Mairinger, , 2004Ray, 1999Ray, , 2002Selivanov, 1988), normal photographic lenses are usually impractical for NUV imaging (see the Zeiss Topar transmission curve in Fig. 8).…”

“…(Brooke, s.d. ;Dorwin, 1967), while it can also be rewarding to detect specific pigments (Mairinger, 2000(Mairinger, , 2004Van Santen, 1946) as well as traces of restoration on tapestries (Lichtmann, 1995), textiles (Baldia and Jakes, 2007;Van Santen, 1946), paintings (Marceau, 1953;Mairinger, 2000Mairinger, , 2004, and sculptures (Dorrell, 1994;Eastman Kodak Company, 1961). Due to the aforementioned reasons, direct NUV photography has never been used in aerial archaeological research (to the authors knowledge), although Gibson (1978) states it might be useful in revealing soil marks, but no further reference or illustrative material proves this point.…”

Exploitation of the whole electromagnetic spectrum in art conservation studies

“…Even today, observation under an ultraviolet lamp is a preliminary test that is carried out before any intervention. 33 However, fluorescence techniques have been much improved in recent years with the introduction of the recording of both the fluorescence spectrum and the fluorescence decay time, which enables differences between very similar materials to be distinguished. 34 While still remaining in the field of fluorescence, we should mention that the development of fluorescence Lidar instrumentation has revealed it to be a very useful tool for analysing in situ stone materials that constitute monuments, as well as for the early detection of the presence of biodeteriogens.…”