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Non-invasive Florentine Renaissance Panel Painting Replica Structures Investigation by Using Terahertz Time-Domain Imaging (THz-TDI) Technique

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Abstract

The potentials of the Terahertz Time-Domain Imaging (THz-TDI) technique for a non-invasive inspection of panel paintings have been considered in detail. The THz-TD data acquired on a replica of a panel painting made in imitation of Italian Renaissance panel paintings were processed in order to provide insights as to the limits and potentials of the technique in detecting different kinds of underdrawings and paint layers. Constituent layers, construction techniques, and anomalies were identified and localized by interpreting the extracted THz dielectric stratigraphy.

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Notes

  1. Former Soprintendenza Speciale per il Patrimonio Storico, Artistico ed Etnoantropologico e per il Polo Museale della città di Firenze—now affiliated to Le Gallerie degli Uffizi, Italy.

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Acknowledgments

This research material is based upon the THz-ARTE Project (“Grande Rilevanza - GIAPPONE - Technologies applied to Cultural Heritage 2013–2015”) supported by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale - MAECI) in collaboration with Japan. Part of this research was also conducted within the European Cooperation in Science and Technology, COST Action TD120: Colour and Space in Cultural Heritage (COSCH, www.cosch.info). Corinna L. Koch Dandolo is grateful to the Swiss National Science Foundation (FNSNF, http://www.snf.ch/) for its financial support. Authors are grateful to Magnolia Scudieri, Elena Prandi and Marina Ginanni of the Ufficio e Laboratorio Restauri of the former Soprintendenza Speciale per il Patrimonio Storico, Artistico ed Etnoantropologico e per il Polo Museale della città di Firenze and Polo Museale Regionale della Toscana—now affiliated to Le Gallerie degli Uffizi, for having prepared the test panel painting and for the fruitful discussions.

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Koch Dandolo, C.L., Picollo, M., Cucci, C. et al. Non-invasive Florentine Renaissance Panel Painting Replica Structures Investigation by Using Terahertz Time-Domain Imaging (THz-TDI) Technique. J Infrared Milli Terahz Waves 37, 1148–1156 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10762-016-0311-8

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