Thesis: Varnishes from historical musical instruments (2010)

Title: Characterization of the varnishes from historical musical instruments
Author: Francesco Caruso
University: University of Palermo
Type of document: PhD
Year: 2010
Link: http://box.net/... (pdf, 9.1 Mb)

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Abstract

The characterization of materials such as glues, paints, pigments, binders and varnishes used to create artworks, continues to provide art historians and conservators with precious information. Such a knowledge enables restoration and conservation processes to be carried out properly without causing any damage to the original artefacts and also helps to understand the techniques used by the artists. The varnishing of musical instruments has been an interesting debating point since the end of the 19th century for lute-makers and industries focused onto the (re)production of high quality instruments. To date, there is considerable scientific interest in recovering the original formulations (the secrets of the old masters) and transferring such knowledge to restorers, conservators, lute-makers and musicologists. Ample scientific efforts have been made to identify the organic and the inorganic portions of the surface layers of several historical stringed instruments, although the interest has mainly been focused on North-Italian ones. This doctoral dissertation is devoted to the use of a non standard multianalytical method for the characterization of the varnish of a selection of historical stringed musical instruments from the "Musical Instruments Museum" in Brussels and the "Vincenzo Bellini" Conservatory in Palermo. A series of non-destructive and micro-destructive instrumental techniques was applied for obtaining information about the composition of the varnishes of the instruments. Particular attention was given to the implementation of a Curie Point Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry methodology for the study of the organic portions of the micro-samples without any special pre-treatment. This is the first systematic scientific work on the art works of such collections and one of the few in the field of chemical sciences applied to the conservation of historical musical instruments.


Table of contents (short version):

1. Introduction

1.1. History of the collection of the \Vincenzo Bellini" Conservatory in Palermo
1.2. History of the \Musical Instruments Museum" in Brussels
1.3. Scientific studies on the varnish of historical musical instruments
1.4. The analysed instruments and their labels
2. Experimental
2.1. Non destructive techniques
2.2. Micro-destructive techniques
3. Results and discussion

3.1. Non destructive techniques
3.2. Micro-destructive techniques
4. Conclusions
References
A. XRF results on the instruments from the "Musical Instruments Museum" in Brussels
B. FTIR spectra and band assignments of reference materials

C. Scientific activity

Article: Analysis of South-Asian Shaman paintings (2008)

Title: Analysis of South-Asian Shaman paintings at the national museum of Denmark
Author: P. Vandenabeele, M. C. Christensen, L. Moens
Reference: Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, Volume 39 Issue 8, 2008, Pages 1030-1034
Link: http://hdl.handle.net/... (pdf, 193 Kb)

Abstract:

Raman spectroscopy is often used for the non-destructive analysis of archaeological objects or artefacts. Recently, the use of mobile Raman instrumentation has become increasingly popular for in situ investigations. Moreover, in this work, direct Raman analysis was completed with Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). We used a dedicated mobile Raman instrument to perform direct analysis on a series of Shaman paintings on textile, which are part of the collection of the National Museum of Denmark. In general, relatively little attention has been given to the investigation of 19th or 20th Century artworks of Southeast Asian origin. The paintings under investigation depict Shaman gods and were previously dated between 1870 and 1950. The aim of this work was to obtain information on the materials that were applied and to narrow these dates, based on the artists' materials that could be identified. By using the combination of analytical techniques (Raman analysis with FT-IR and SEM-EDX), it was possible to obtain information on inorganic and organic pigments, the binding medium and the canvas.

Thesis: Analysis of oil paint (2002)

Title: Microspectroscopic analysis of traditional oil paint
Author: Jaap van der Weerd
University: University of Amsterdam
Year: 2002
ISBN: 90-801704-8-8
Type of document: PhD thesis
Download: http://www.amolf.nl/... (pdf)
New link: http://dare.uva.nl/... (pdf)


Table of contents (short version):

1. Imaging studies in paintings research
2. The identification of pigments in paint cross-sections by reflection visible light imaging miceospectroscopy (VIS-imaging)
3. A practical evaluation of preparation methods and accessories for the infrared spectroscopic analysis of traditional paint
4. FTIR microscopic imaging of an embedded paint cross-section
5. FTIR studies of the effects of pigments in the ageing of oil
6. Chemical changes in old master paintings: dissolution, metal soap formation, and remineralisation processes in lead pigmented paint layers of 17th centrury paintings
7. Metal carboxylates in the grounds of 19th century preprimed canvases used by F. Church
8. Zinc soap aggregate formation in 'Falling Leaves (Les Alyscamps)' by Vincent van Gogh
References

Physico-Chemical Research of Cultural Heritage Materials Using Microanalytical methods (2009)

Title: Physico-Chemical Research of Cultural Heritage Materials Using Microanalytical methods
Author: Liz Karen Herrera Quintero
Advisors: Ángel Justo Erbez and José Luis Pérez Rodríguez
Publisher: Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Sevilla (ICMS-CSIC), Universidad de Sevilla
Pages: 223 pages
Year: 2009
ISBN: 846920906-X
Type: Doctoral thesis
Site: http://hdl.handle.net/...

Abstract:

The research work included in this thesis is focused on the characterisation of five different materials: paintings, baroque mirrors, natural fibres, organ pipes and several metallic artefacts, which are representative of Spanish Cultural Heritage. All of these ornamental elements are characteristic of the Andalusian Baroque period of art. One of the main contributions of this work is the application of synchrotron radiation-based techniques at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) within the Cultural Heritage Group. These synchrotron x-ray techniques were carried out in combination with other analytical laboratory techniques such as x-ray diffraction, micro-infrared, micro-Raman spectroscopy, optical and electron microscopy, and mass spectrometry. Synchrotron radiation was very powerful and useful in the detection, analysis and distribution of different elements and crystal phases. These findings are critical to the different aspects of the artwork.

Index (short version):

Chapter I. Studies and Research of Paintings
I.1. Advanced Combined Application of μ-X-ray Diffraction/μ-X-ray Fluorescence with Conventional Techniques for the Identification of Pictorial Materials from Baroque Andalusia Paintings
I. 2. Characterisation of iron oxide-based pigments by micro X-Ray diffraction
I. 3. Synchrotron-based X-ray experiments used for the study of an iron oxide micrometric pigment in 18th century paintings
I. 4. Characterisation of azurite and malachite pigments by combined application of μ-X-ray diffraction/μ-X-ray fluorescence in cross section from Spanish Baroque paintings

Chapter II. Studies on Ancient Mirrors
II.1. Hg/Sn amalgam degradation of ancient glass mirrors
II.2. Study of nanocrystalline SnO2 particles formed during the corrosion processes of ancient amalgam mirrors

Chapter III. Studies on Baroque Metallic Organ Pipes
III.1. Chemical composition of the metal pipes of Spanish baroque organs as determined by laboratory and synchrotron techniques
III.2. Chemical composition of the red pipes of a Spanish baroque organ

Chapter IV. Studies of Ancient Fibres
IV. Identification of cellulose fibres belonging to Spanish cultural heritage using synchrotron x-ray diffraction and laboratory techniques

Chapter V. Studies of Metallic Artefacts
V. Analysis of cultural heritage metallic artefacts from Andalusia

Chapter VI. Conclusions
Chapter VII. Resumen