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Comparison between non-invasive methods used on paintings by Goya and his contemporaries: hyperspectral imaging vs. point-by-point spectroscopic analysis

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Abstract

The development of non-invasive techniques for the characterization of pigments is crucial in order to preserve the integrity of the artwork. In this sense, the usefulness of hyperspectral imaging was demonstrated. It allows pigment characterization of the whole painting. However, it also sometimes requires the complementation of other point-by-point techniques. In the present article, the advantages of hyperspectral imaging over point-by-point spectroscopic analysis were evaluated. For that purpose, three paintings were analysed by hyperspectral imaging, handheld X-ray fluorescence and handheld Raman spectroscopy in order to determine the best non-invasive technique for pigment identifications. Thanks to this work, the main pigments used in Aragonese artworks, and especially in Goya’s paintings, were identified and mapped by imaging reflection spectroscopy. All the analysed pigments corresponded to those used at the time of Goya. Regarding the techniques used, the information obtained by the hyperspectral imaging and point-by-point analysis has been, in general, different and complementary. Given this fact, selecting only one technique is not recommended, and the present work demonstrates the usefulness of the combination of all the techniques used as the best non-invasive methodology for the pigments’ characterization. Moreover, the proposed methodology is a relatively quick procedure that allows a larger number of Goya’s paintings in the museum to be surveyed, increasing the possibility of obtaining significant results and providing a chance for extensive comparisons, which are relevant from the point of view of art history issues.

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Acknowledgements

This LaScArBx project is a research program supported by the ANR (ANR-10-LABX-52).This study was led within the framework of a 2013–2014 project financed by the Communauté de Travail des Pyrénées–Comunidad de Trabajo de los Pirineos, with the partnership of three regions: Aragón (IUCA-Universidad de Zaragoza), Basque Country (Universidad del País Vasco, CTP2012-P10) and the Aquitaine region (IRAMAT-CRPAA, CNRS-University Bordeaux Montaigne). Part of this research has been financially supported by the CTQ2011-24882 project of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation. Thanks also to the Museum of Zaragoza, and especially to Marisa Arguis and Carmen Gallego from the Painting Department. N. Prieto-Taboada is grateful to the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) for her post-doctoral contract.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. IRAMAT-CRP2A UMR 5060 CNRS-Université Bordeaux Montaigne, 33607, Pessac, France

    Floréal Daniel & Aurélie Mounier

  2. Instituto Universitario de investigación en Ciencias Ambientales de Aragón (IUCA) and Dpto. Química Analítica, Universidad de Zaragoza, C/Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain

    Josefina Pérez-Arantegui & Carlos Pardos

  3. Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 48940, Leioa, Spain

    Nagore Prieto-Taboada, Silvia Fdez-Ortiz de Vallejuelo & Kepa Castro

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  1. Floréal Daniel
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Correspondence to Floréal Daniel.

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Daniel, F., Mounier, A., Pérez-Arantegui, J. et al. Comparison between non-invasive methods used on paintings by Goya and his contemporaries: hyperspectral imaging vs. point-by-point spectroscopic analysis. Anal Bioanal Chem 409, 4047–4056 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-017-0351-5

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