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Neutron-induced autoradiography in the study of oil paintings by Tintoretto, Marieschi and Bellotto

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 March 2011

E. Pańczyk ,
K. Pytel ,
A. Kalicki ,
L. Rowińska ,
B. Sartowska  and
L. Waliś
E. Pańczyk
Affiliation:
Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology, Dorodna 16, 03-195Warsaw, Poland
K. Pytel
Affiliation:
Institute of Atomic Energy, Swierk/Warsaw, Poland
A. Kalicki
Affiliation:
Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology, Dorodna 16, 03-195Warsaw, Poland
L. Rowińska
Affiliation:
Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology, Dorodna 16, 03-195Warsaw, Poland
B. Sartowska
Affiliation:
Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology, Dorodna 16, 03-195Warsaw, Poland
L. Waliś
Affiliation:
Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology, Dorodna 16, 03-195Warsaw, Poland
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Abstract

A complex technological investigation of 14th-18th centuries Venetian paintings from the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw has been performed in connection with the “Serenissima- Light of Venice” exhibition. After analysis of the X-ray radiographs of the autoradiography to obtain indisputable information about over-painting (Tintoretto) or either confirmation or contradiction of their authenticity (Marieschi, Bellotto).

All the paintings under analysis were irradiated in a specially designed station at the research reactor MARIA in Swierk near Warsaw. Beta-rays emerging from the painting surface irradiated by thermal neutrons and recorded on a X-ray film displayed the distribution of elements in pigments used for creating individual layers of the painting. It allows for tracing the particular phases of the painting structure invisible to the naked eye.

The report presents results obtained for the following paintings: J. Tintoretto – Portrait of a Venetian Admiral, M. Marieschi – The palace of Doges in Venice, B. Bellotto called Canaletto – Fantasy architecture with self-portrait of the artist.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 712: Symposium II – Materials Issues in Art and Archaeology VI , 2002 , II3.5
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2002

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References

REFERENCES

1. Collective work, “Serenissima. Świato” Wenecji, Exhibition Brochure, (National Museum in Warsaw, 1999)Google Scholar
2. Ainsworth, M., “Art and Autoradiography:Insights into Genesis of Paintings by Rembrandt, van Dyck and Vermeer”, (The Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY, 1982)Google Scholar
3. Fisher, C. O., Kelch, J., Laurenze, C., Leuther, W., Slusallek, K., “Autoradiography of paintings after neutron activation at a cold neutron guide”, Kertechnik 51, 23 (1987)Google Scholar
4. Kalicki, A., Pańczyk, E., Rowińska, L., Sartowska, B., Waliś, L., Pytel, K., “Neutron autoradiography: working-out method and application in investigation of test paintings”, Radiation Measurements 34, 567 (2001)Google Scholar