Dresden 2011 – scientific programme

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SYCH: Intersectional Symposium Cultural Heritage in the Light of Physical Methods

SYCH 1: Cultural Heritage in the Light of Physical Methods I

SYCH 1.2: Invited Talk

Thursday, March 17, 2011, 14:30–15:00, HSZ 02

From Lascaux to Rembrandt. Insights into invisible traces of paintings and drawings from physical methods — •Ina Reiche — Laboratoire du C2RMF - UMR 171 CNRS, Palais du Louvre, 14 quai F. Mitterrand, 75001 Paris, France

Beyond art historical studies, analyses of works of art using chemical and physical methods can bring to light invaluable information on the objects and their history, which in turn reflects know-how and life style of past societies. Art and archaeological objects are very diverse in terms of the materials they are made of. They are heterogenous composite materials and altered over time. Consequently, problems related to the fabrication, the raw material origin, the dating or the conservation of art objects can be very varied. Characteristic markers that can reveal such information are minor or trace elements, special isotope ratios or specific phases present in small amounts. Therefore, analytical strategies using complementary physical and chemical methods are developed as a function of the object material, the raised questions and the possibility to sample for the analyses or not. Non-invasive approaches are generally privileged because of the precious nature of the objects of our cultural heritage. Laboratory equipments but also large scale facilities such as synchrotron sources are used. Taking as examples the study of Lascaux cave paintings, pigments from Ancient Egypt and India as well as drawings made by Rembrandt, van Eyck or Dürer, the physico-chemical approach in the field is illustrated. Special method developments are emphasized and data interpretations within the archaeological or art-historical context discussed.