Cultural property radiography
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Radiography%2C_x-ray_therapeutics_and_radium_therapy_%281915%29_%2814777545043%29.jpg/220px-Radiography%2C_x-ray_therapeutics_and_radium_therapy_%281915%29_%2814777545043%29.jpg)
The radiography of cultural property is the use of
X-ray spectromicroscopy has also been used to analyse the reactions of pigments in paintings. For example, in analysing colour degradation in the paintings of van Gogh.[1]
These processes can reveal various details about objects that are not visible to the naked eye. This information, which includes structural elements, aids conservators as they assess object condition and consider treatment plans.
For three dimensional objects, the computed tomography (CT) has become a common tool, which when combined with analysis can, for example, "digitally unroll" or unfold and make possible the reading of fragile scrolls, books, or sealed correspondence.[2]
Use and precautions
Radiography of paintings
Conservators and art historians have used radiography to uncover technical information about paintings. Compositions of materials, previous alterations, and painting techniques have been revealed in X-rays.[6] This data has also been used to date works and identify forgeries.[7] Diagnostic and therapeutic X-ray systems are generally used to produce X-rays of paintings.[8] Infrared reflectography has also been used to see underdrawings and previous markings on painted canvases.[9]
Implementation
An X-ray of the
The Sampling Officials of the Amsterdam Drapers' Guild, also known as the Syndics of the Drapers' Guild or more simply as the Syndics, was painted by Rembrandt in 1662. An X-ray of the painting revealed that Rembrandt fine-tuned the composition several times, alternating the glances between the figures and slightly changing their positions before he settled on that is known today.[14]
X-ray analysis revealed alterations to the paint of a sixteenth century portrait that had been identified as a Bronzino portrait of Eleanor of Toledo at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After a conservation treatment, which removed the added paint, the subject of the portrait was found to be Isabella de' Medici. The painting was also attributed to Alessandro Allori.[15][16]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d3/De_Staalmeesters_x-ray.jpg/220px-De_Staalmeesters_x-ray.jpg)
According to X-rays taken of Twilight by
The Old Guitarist by Pablo Picasso at the Art Institute of Chicago had been previously examined with visible and ultraviolet light, which had hinted at the possibility of an earlier composition. X-rays of the painting revealed that Picasso had originally painted two female figures behind the guitarist. The X-rays also penetrated far enough to reveal how Picasso had prepared the wooden panel for painting.[8]
Radiography of sculpture and other three dimensional objects
X-rays can provide a better picture of
Implementation
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c8/Detailed_Radiographic_Image_of_an_African_Songye_Power_Figure_in_the_collection_of_the_Indianapolis_Museum_of_Art_%282005.21%29.jpg/220px-Detailed_Radiographic_Image_of_an_African_Songye_Power_Figure_in_the_collection_of_the_Indianapolis_Museum_of_Art_%282005.21%29.jpg)
The plaster cast of Michelangelo's David at the Victoria & Albert Museum was X-rayed revealing that the supports in David's legs were positioned similarly to that of bones in a human leg. The size of this particular piece required a portable machine to complete the X-rays.[17]
The
In the X-rays of a wooden power figure at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, conservators discovered that there were hollowed out sections through the center of the sculpture that connected three filled cavities. Information about the network inside of these sculptures has aided curators as they research the function of these pieces. The findings have led to the use of radiography to compare power figures in other collections.[19]
Radiography of textiles
X-rays can reveal information about layers of
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/62/American_X-ray_journal_%281899%29_%2814756518452%29.jpg/220px-American_X-ray_journal_%281899%29_%2814756518452%29.jpg)
Implementation
X-rays of the
Conservators learned more about the complex stitching of the Sundial Coverlet, which dates to 1797, through X-rays.[20]
X-rays were used to understand some of the stains and stitching patterns on an Egyptian tunic, dating to AD 600–799, in the Victoria & Albert collection.[21]
Hidden design and structure details were visible on X-rays of pairs of
Radiography in archaeology
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/Mummy_at_Louvre.jpg/220px-Mummy_at_Louvre.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/ArPalimTyp2.jpg/220px-ArPalimTyp2.jpg)
Archaeological materials have also benefited from X-rays. X-rays of soil segments have revealed artifacts that have eroded away, leaving them nearly undetectable to the naked eye.
Implementation
Radiography has been used with human dry bones to diagnose pathologies, demonstrate trauma and assist age estimation through dentition eruption status.[28]
X-rays have been employed to analyze what is under the wrappings of
The
X-ray technology was used to quickly identify individual
X-rays were among the imaging techniques used to uncover lost text on the Archimedes Palimpsest, which is in the collection of the Walters Museum in Baltimore, Maryland. The museum spearheaded an extensive research project on the palimpsest that employed various imaging techniques including ultraviolet, infrared, and X-radiography.[31]
The heavily corroded Antikythera mechanism, which was uncovered from a shipwreck at the beginning of the 20th century, has been X-rayed several times in an effort to understand how it works.
References
- PMID 21314202. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2017-03-31. Retrieved 2020-11-21.
- S2CID 232102719.
- ^ Art Conservation Archived 2016-04-27 at the Wayback Machine at the University of Delaware (2014). X-radiography. Retrieved from artcons.udel.edu
- ^ a b c d e Pigments through the Ages: X-rays. (n.d.) Retrieved from webexhibits.org
- ^ a b c d "Schreiner, B., Frühmann, B., Jembrih-Simbürger, D. & Linke, R. (2004). X-rays in art and archaeology: An overview. International Centre for Diffraction Data. Retrieved from icdd.com" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
- ^ a b The British Museum (n.d.). X-ray diffraction analysis. Retrieved from britishmuseum.org
- ^ a b c Victoria & Albert Museum (n.d.). X-radiography of paintings. Retrieved from vam.ac.uk
- ^ a b The Art Institute of Chicago (n.d.). X-Radiography. Retrieved from artic.edu
- ^ Art Conservation at the University of Delaware (2014). Infrared Reflectography. Retrieved from artcons.udel.edu
- ^ Art Conservation at the University of Delaware (2014). X-ray fluorescence. Retrieved from artcons.udel.edu
- ^ The National Gallery (n.d.). X-rays. Retrieved from nationalgallery.org.uk
- ^ "Art Conservation at the University of Delaware (2014). X-radiography. Retrieved from artcons.udel.edu". Archived from the original on 2016-04-27. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
- ^ Closer to Van Eyck: Rediscovering the Ghent Altarpiece (2011). Retrieved from closertovaneyck.kikirpa.be
- ^ "Late Rembrandt - The Syndics, 1662". KPN Late Rembrandt. Retrieved 2015-12-04.
- ^ Rouvalis, C. (2014). The tedious intrigue of art conservation: How Carnegie Museum of Art conservators expose fakes, restore past glory, and play doctor to every art form imaginable. Carnegie Magazine, Spring 2014. Retrieved from carnegiemuseums.org
- ^ Cascone, S. (2014 July 1). Carnegie conservators reveal true face of Medici portrait. Retrieved from Artnet News.
- ^ Puisto, J. (2014). David revealed! Victoria & Albert Conservation Blog. Retrieved from vam.ac.uk
- ^ Schreiner, B., Frühmann, B., Jembrih-Simbürger, D. & Linke, R. (2004). X-rays in art and archaeology: An overview Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from the International Centre for Diffraction Data
- ^ "The Songye X-ray Project". IMA Magazine. Indianapolis Museum of Art. Spring 2010.
- ^ a b c d Hackett, J. (2011). X-radiography as a tool to examine the making and remaking of historic quilts. Victoria & Albert Online Journal 3 (Spring 2011). Retrieved from vam.ac.uk
- ^ Haldane, E., Gillies, S., O’Connor, S., Batt, C. & Stern, B. (2009). Victoria & Albert Conservation Journal 57(Spring 2009). Retrieved from vam.ac.uk
- ^ Glenn, S. (2013). Seeing the unseen. Victoria & Albert Conservation Blog. Retrieved from vam.ac.uk
- ^ Re, A., Corsi, J., Demmelbauer, M., Martini, M., Mila, G. & Ricci, C. (2015). X-ray tomography of a soil block: useful tool for the restoration of archaeological finds. Heritage Science 2015 3(4). Retrieved from heritagesciencejournal.com
- ^ Palmer, J. (2011). X-ray technique peers beneath archaeology’s surface. Retrieved from BBC news.
- ^ Kennedy, M. (2012). X-rays reveal secrets of Roman coins. The Guardian. Retrieved from theguardian.com
- ^ a b Gleeson, M. (2015). Animal mummy X-rays. Retrieved from The Penn Artifact Lab.
- ^ Re, A., Corsi, J., Demmelbauer, M., Martini, M., Mila, G. & Ricci, C. (2015). X-ray tomography of a soil block: useful tool for the restoration of archaeological finds. Heritage Science 2015 3(4). Retrieved from heritagesciencejournal.com
- doi:10.11141/ia.59.1.
- ^ Vergano, D. (2015). X-rays reveal snippets from papyrus scrolls that survived Mount Vesuvius. Retrieved from The National Geographic
- ^ Kennedy, M. (2012). X-rays reveal secrets of Roman coins. Retrieved from The Guardian.
- ^ The Archimedes Palimpsest: A-ray fluorescence imaging (n.d.). Retrieved from archimedespalimpsest.org