The Use of Synchrotron Radiation for the Characterization of Artists' Pigments and Paintings

Abstract

We review methods and recent studies in which macroscopic to (sub)microscopic X-ray beams were used for nondestructive analysis and characterization of pigments, paint microsamples, and/or entire paintings. We discuss the use of portable laboratory- and synchrotron-based instrumentation and describe several variants of X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis used for elemental analysis and imaging and combined with X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Macroscopic and microscopic (μ-)XRF variants of this method are suitable for visualizing the elemental distribution of key elements in paint multilayers. Technical innovations such as multielement, large-area XRF detectors have enabled such developments. The use of methods limited to elemental analysis or imaging usually is not sufficient to elucidate the chemical transformations that take place during natural pigment alteration processes. However, synchrotron-based combinations of μ-XRF, μ-XAS, and μ-XRD are suitable for such studies.

Hidden library: visualizing fragments of medieval manuscripts in early-modern bookbindings with mobile macro-XRF scanner

“…1 Department of Materials Science, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 2, 2628 CD Delft, The Netherlands. 2 Book and Digital Media Studies, Leiden University, P.N. van Eyckhof 4, 2311 BV Leiden, The Netherlands.…”

“…The M6 has a measuring head that moves over the surface in an XY-motorized stage with a minimum step size of 10 μm and maximum travel range of 800 × 600 mm (w × h). Mounted on the measuring head are a Rh-target X-ray tube (30 W, maximum voltage 50 kV, maximum current 0.6 mA) and a 30 mm 2 XFlash silicon drift detector (energy resolution <145 eV at Mn-K a ) together with two magnifying optical cameras to document the mapped area. The X-ray beam converges in the focal point, at which the minimum beam diameter is c. 40 μm.…”

“…Macro X-ray fluorescence scanning (MA-XRF) is a frequently employed technique to visualize underlying paintings in painted works of art [2,3]. It is a non-destructive technique that combines elemental analysis with spatial information, resulting in macro-scale elemental distribution maps.…”

Examination of historical paintings by state-of-the-art hyperspectral imaging methods: from scanning infra-red spectroscopy to computed X-ray laminography

“…Scientific studies on such artefacts are highly relevant, in order to optimize the preservation of the paintings for coming generations and/or to gain more profound insights in their creation process [1][2][3]. This review focusses on the examination of easel paintings, i.e., painted renditions realized on a moveable substrate.…”

Some forensic methods of the painting colour analysis

“…Funkcija veziva je da vezuje čestice pigmenta između sebe, kao i boje za preparaciju i nosilac i njihova svojstva utiču na kvalitet, trajnost i izgled boje. 12 Pigmenti koji su danas u upotrebi, prema počecima upotrebe, klasifikuju se na sledeći način 13 : − Praistorijski period: crne od čađi, smeđe zemlje, crvene zemlje; − Egipat, Grčka, Kina: olovna bela, cinober, zelena zemlja; − Srednji vek: umbra, siena, napuljska žuta; − XVIII vek: parisko plava; − Prva polovina XIX veka: kobalt plava, kobalt zelena, kadmijum žuta, cinkova bela, veštački ultramarin; − Druga polovina XIX veka: hrom hidroksid zelena (viridijan), kobalt violet, kobalt žuta, hrom-oksid zelena, ceruleum plava, mangan plava, alizarin crvena; − XX vek: kadmijum crvena, stroncijum žuta, ftalocijanin zelena i plava; − Savremena paleta: olovna bela (flake white), cinkova bela, titanova bela (titanijum barijum), koštana crna, lozova crna, crna od čađi, mars crna, kadmijum crvena, kadmijum barijum crvena, indijsko crvena, pečeni oker, mars crvena, ultramarin, kobalt plava, ceruleum, mangan plava, ftalocijanin, kadmijum žute, kadmijum barijum žute, stroncijum žuta, hansa žuta, kobalt žuta, napuljsko žuta, mars žute, žuti oker, siena, siena pečena, umbra, pečena umbra, veridijan, ftalocijanin, hrom-oksid, kobalt zelena, zelena zemlja.…”