Novel integration of non-invasive imaging techniques for the analysis of an egg tempera painting by Pietro Lorenzetti

Year: 2023

Authors: Dal Fovo A., Mattana S., Ruberto C., Castelli L., Ramat A., Riitano P., Cicchi R., Fontana R.

Autors Affiliation: 1 Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche – Istituto Nazionale di Ottica (CNR-INO), Largo Enrico Fermi 6, 50125 Florence, Italy
2 Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Via Bruno Rossi, 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
3 Dipartimento di fisica e astronomia, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Via Sansone, 1, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
4 Opificio delle Pietre Dure, Via degli Alfani, 78, 50122 Florence, Italy

Abstract: The identification of an artist’s palette through the application of non-invasive techniques is a challenging goal due to the
huge variety of artistic materials that constitutes a painting. An effective approach is to combine several techniques providing complementary
information in order to minimise the risk of misinterpreting the data. In this paper, we propose a multi-analytical method
comprising three non-invasive mapping techniques, namely Reflectance Imaging Spectroscopy (RIS), Macro-X-Ray Fluorescence
(MA-XRF) and Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging (FLI), for the study of a fourteenth-century painting by Pietro Lorenzetti from
the Uffizi Gallery collection. For the low-cost and time-saving interpretation and integration of the data provided by the different
techniques, a purposely developed software for multivariate statistical analysis was used. FLI data were acquired with a prototype
applied for the first time on a work of art, and the data were processed with a method based on phasor analysis. The information
obtained was discussed within a multidisciplinary team of experts on painting materials and data processing belonging to both the
scientific and the conservation community.

Journal/Review:

Volume: 138      Pages from: 71  to: 71

KeyWords: cultural heritage, fluorescence lifetime
DOI: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2022.10.006

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