The potentiality of non-invasive diagnostics for the investigation of a Renaissance religious wall painting
Author(s)
Date Issued
2024
Type
article
Volume
20
Issue
5
Start Page
133
End Page
146
Abstract
In this contribution, the potentiality of multispectral imaging combined with in situ
spectroscopy analysis will be tested on a religious wall painting located in a niche in
Palazzo Chigi at Viterbo (Italy). The painting represents the Virgin with the Child and is
attributed to the Italian Renaissance artist Antonio del Massaro, also known as Pastura.
The painting has been recently and definitively dated back to the beginning of the
16
th century; it has been recently examined by hypercolorimetric multispectral imaging,
ultraviolet fluorescence photography and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, all performed
on site in a totally non-invasive modality. The aim has been to investigate the artist’s
materials and to compare them with those of other studied wall paintings of the same
author. The gathered information will be useful for a potential future restoration on the
painting, which would be desirable given the poor conservation conditions.
Project(s)
Materials characterization in cultural heritage