Rejuvenating the Appearance of Cultural Heritage Using Color and Imaging Science Techniques

Many works of art have undergone undesirable changes in color since initial creation. The use of spectral or colorimetric imaging, optical models such as Kubelka-Munk turbid-media theory, sample creation using colorants with similar optical behavior to the artist’s materials, and color-image processing has enabled the simulation of a work of art before the color change. This paper describes this approach and demonstrates it use on paintings by Vincent Van Gogh and Georges Seurat.