Non-invasive analysis of a 15th century illuminated manuscript fragment: point-based vs imaging spectroscopy

Abstract Illuminated manuscript fragments are some of the best preserved objects of Western cultural heritage. Therefore, scholars are limited to non-invasive - often point-based - methods, to answer questions on material usage, technique, origin and previous treatments. These powerful methods yield specific information; however, the information is limited to the number of points analyzed. Imaging spectroscopies such as MA-XRF and MA-rFTIR combine specificity with the power of imaging, resulting in distribution images that are interpretable by non-spectroscopists and the public at large. In this paper the possible added value of using imaging spectroscopy is discussed. Do these methods yield the same results as an extensive point-based spectroscopic campaign and can they bring novel information? As a case study, a 15th century illuminated manuscript fragment is employed in order to explore the differences between these approaches and present an inventory of their advantages and limitations.

[1]  P. Vandenabeele,et al.  On the stability of mediaeval inorganic pigments: a literature review of the effect of climate, material selection, biological activity, analysis and conservation treatments , 2017, Heritage Science.

[2]  Costanza Miliani,et al.  Noninvasive analysis of paintings by mid-infrared hyperspectral imaging. , 2013, Angewandte Chemie.

[3]  I. Leito,et al.  ATR-FT-IR spectroscopy in the region of 550-230 cm(-1) for identification of inorganic pigments. , 2009, Spectrochimica acta. Part A, Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy.

[4]  P. Vandenabeele,et al.  Pigment identification of an illuminated mediaeval manuscript De Civitate Dei by means of a portable Raman equipment , 2014 .

[5]  P. Walter,et al.  Characterization of illuminated manuscripts by laboratory-made portable XRD and micro-XRD systems , 2009, Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry.

[6]  A. Romani,et al.  The Book of Kells: a non-invasive MOLAB investigation by complementary spectroscopic techniques. , 2013, Spectrochimica acta. Part A, Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy.

[7]  K. Janssens,et al.  Large-Area Elemental Imaging Reveals Van Eyck's Original Paint Layers on the Ghent Altarpiece (1432), Rescoping Its Conservation Treatment. , 2017, Angewandte Chemie.

[8]  M. Borengasser,et al.  Hyperspectral Remote Sensing: Principles and Applications , 2007 .

[9]  Paola Ricciardi,et al.  Near infrared reflectance imaging spectroscopy to map paint binders in situ on illuminated manuscripts. , 2012, Angewandte Chemie.

[10]  G. Smith,et al.  In Situ Spectroscopic Detection of Lead Sulphide on a Blackened Manuscript Illumination by Raman Microscopy , 2002 .

[11]  C. Miliani,et al.  FT-NIR spectroscopy for non-invasive identification of natural polymers and resins in easel paintings , 2009, Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry.

[12]  M. Loew,et al.  Standoff chemical imaging finds evidence for Jackson Pollock's selective use of alkyd and oil binding media in a famous ‘drip’ painting , 2017 .

[13]  B. Vekemans,et al.  μ-XRF/μ-RS vs. SR μ-XRD for pigment identification in illuminated manuscripts , 2008 .

[14]  Adrian Duran,et al.  Analysis of a royal 15th century illuminated parchment using a portable XRF–XRD system and micro-invasive techniques , 2014 .

[15]  W. White.  The Carbonate Minerals , 1974 .

[16]  Mauro Bacci,et al.  An integrated spectroscopic approach for the identification of what distinguishes Afghan lapis lazuli from others , 2009 .

[17]  Koen Janssens,et al.  Macroscopic Fourier transform infrared scanning in reflection mode (MA-rFTIR), a new tool for chemical imaging of cultural heritage artefacts in the mid-infrared range. , 2014, The Analyst.

[18]  Kevin C. Gross,et al.  Remote identification and quantification of industrial smokestack effluents via imaging Fourier-transform spectroscopy. , 2010, Environmental science & technology.

[19]  Paola Ricciardi,et al.  Characterisation of colourants on illuminated manuscripts by portable fibre optic UV-visible-NIR reflectance spectrophotometry , 2014 .

[20]  Koen Janssens,et al.  Strategies for processing mega-pixel X-ray fluorescence hyperspectral data: a case study on a version of Caravaggio's painting Supper at Emmaus , 2015 .

[21]  Koen Janssens,et al.  Optimization of mobile scanning macro-XRF systems for the in situ investigation of historical paintings , 2011 .

[22]  Costanza Miliani,et al.  Reflection infrared spectroscopy for the non-invasive in situ study of artists’ pigments , 2012 .

[23]  V. A. Solé,et al.  A multiplatform code for the analysis of energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectra , 2007 .

[24]  Koen Janssens,et al.  Examination of historical paintings by state-of-the-art hyperspectral imaging methods: from scanning infra-red spectroscopy to computed X-ray laminography , 2014, Heritage Science.

[25]  Costanza Miliani,et al.  CO2 entrapment in natural ultramarine blue , 2008 .

[26]  K. Wael,et al.  The darkening of copper- or lead-based pigments explained by a structural modification of natural orpiment : a spectroscopic and electrochemical study , 2017 .

[27]  Ana Claro,et al.  Bright light: microspectrofluorimetry for the characterization of lake pigments and dyes in works of art. , 2010, Accounts of chemical research.

[28]  M. Attas,et al.  Spectroscopic Studies on the Darkening of Lead White , 2003, Applied spectroscopy.

[29]  John K Delaney,et al.  Complementary standoff chemical imaging to map and identify artist materials in an early Italian Renaissance panel painting. , 2014, Angewandte Chemie.

[30]  E. Hendriks,et al.  Scanning XRF investigation of a Flower Still Life and its underlying composition from the collection of the Kröller–Müller Museum , 2013 .

[31]  Gerhard Banik,et al.  Non-destructive analysis for the investigation of decomposition phenomena of historical manuscripts and prints , 2007 .

[32]  J. Kunicki-Goldfinger,et al.  Two Stangengläser from the collection of the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague: Decorative techniques, material analyses, and conservation , 2015 .