Search

This article focuses on the analysis of the pigmentary palette of Pio Collivadino (1869–1945), an Argentinian artist of outstanding influence in the national art of the early twentieth century. By using Raman spectroscopy on micro-samples taken from a selected corpus of the Pio Collivadino Museum consisting of representative works of different moments of his production, we were able to unambiguously detect several pigments in the artist’s palette: lead white, vermillion, Prussian blue, chrome yellows and oranges, synthetic ultramarine, zinc white, cadmium yellows and oranges, cobalt violet, viridian, cerulean blue, cadmium red and earth pigments (raw sienna and burnt sienna). The identification of the pigments used by Collivadino enabled us to set up a dialogue between his palette and those of the contemporary European artistic movements his work relates to: the Macchiaioli, the Scapigliati, the Divisionists (Italian artistic vanguards) and the Impressionists. The presence of Prussian blue, cerulean blue, viridian not mixed with emerald green and earth pigments relates Collivadino’s choice of pigments to that of the contemporary Italian artistic vanguards, distancing his palette from that of the Impressionists. The palettes of European artists active during the nineteenth century and the first half of the twentieth century have been widely studied making it possible to date the incorporation of the new bright and colorful pigments that were synthesized during this period. Taking into account Collivadino’s privileged position in the Art academic field, his choice of art materials may have influenced many artists whose works make up the Argentine national heritage. Therefore, the characterization of Collivadino’s pigmentary palette carried out here is an important step to date the incorporation of these bright new pigments in the Argentinian artists’ palettes. Besides Collivadino's work importance by itself, and due to his position of privilege, his palette also provides information about the availability of art supplies in Argentina during this period.

Could not be possible that rock paintings with similar hues and morphologies were the result of different paint preparations inside a cave but distanced in time? Is there any archaeometric approach that allow us to evidence these subtle differences? Aiming to address these inquires, in this work are presented the potentials of new physicochemical lines of evidence for characterization and differentiation of paint mixtures. This will improve the understanding of the technical heterogeneity and temporal complexity of painting sets executed in a particular archaeological site. In order to explore these points, the results obtained in the micro-stratigraphic studies of samples taken from the painted walls of Oyola, an archaeological site located in the northwest of Argentina, are presented. These samples have been analyzed by micro-Raman spectroscopy (mRS) and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray (SEM–EDS). The differences found by cross-section chemical studies could be explained as a consequence of two situations: 1-differences in the painting’s chemical components, either in the pigments involved or additives used; and, 2-differences in the physical properties of the mixtures such as stratum thickness and/or particle size. Also, in this article are explained each of the hypothesis, presenting the limits of these interpretations and pointing out future research challenges. As we discussed, it could be possible that the chemical and physical differences found between paint mixtures were the material expression of varied types of pictorial techniques.

Artworks are an inseparable part of the cultural heritage of societies and provide us with a unique look at cultural developments through time and space. For the best possible conservation, it is paramount to know the constituent materials, condition, and construction techniques of the objects (e.g. painting on wood, fresco, sculpture). Such information is required not only for the surfaces of the objects, but also for the interiors; in the imaging discipline, this is known as depth imaging. Here, we introduce a new method for non-invasive depth imaging as an alternative to traditional non-invasive methods when the latter cannot be used to obtain the required information. We use ultrasonic transverse-wave transmission measurements and turn them into virtual reflection measurements. We achieve this by applying seismic interferometry with active sources. Obtaining reflection measurements by seismic interferometry allows us to apply an advanced imaging technique – prestack depth migration, as used in seismic exploration – to produce a high-resolution depth image of an object. We apply our method to ultrasonic data recorded on a mockup of a painting on a wooden support. We validate our method by comparing our results with an image from X-ray computed tomography.

Desde una perspectiva histórica y a partir de la materialidad de dos piezas pictóricas, esta investigación pretende reflexionar sobre materiales, técnicas, usos y costumbres en la pintura colonial. Sobre un corpus de más de cuatrocientas obras del período colonial intervenidas, la propuesta implica analizar los soportes principales y accesorios de dos obras sudamericanas, San Luis Gonzaga y San Juan Nepomuceno, pertenecientes a la Iglesia de San Ignacio en la ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.

This work presents the interdisciplinary research and intervention of a big format painting attributed to Salvator Rosa. In addition to the challenging nature of the restoration, due to its format and state of conservation, the painting is a good example of the proliferation of art commerce in Argentina by the end of nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Art collection and art dealing in this particular period has been studied from the historical point of view; however, extensive material investigation on the paintings that arrived in Argentina in this period of time has not been performed yet. When these pieces go from the private sphere to the collections of public institutions, it is important to conduct an in-depth investigation about them, to offer accurate information and to insert cultural heritage pieces into historical and national context. Restoration led to a deeper comprehension of the painting’s historical and technical features; the pigment samples analyzed by Raman spectroscopy and polarized light microscopy, together with the contributions of the restoration field, cast a doubt over the Salvator Rosa attribution. However, considering technical aspects like the artisanal grinding of pigments, how the color was applied and the absence of synthetic pigments in the original layers, as well as the relationship between iconography and format, the piece can be identified as a no later than eighteenth century European painting. It is doubtful that the piece was made with intentions of forgery; however, it is more likely that the attribution comes from fraudulent documents and registration when the painting was sold.

Lining treatments used in the conservation-restoration field can be classified according to the adhesive used. Traditional methods include those based on glue-starch and wax-resin whilst those using synthetic adhesives are considered alternative methods. Rise of new materials and mechanical equipment like the low-pressure table expanded possibilities of intervention. However, alternative methods require previous exhaustive testing of procedures, tools and supplies. This paper describes research carried out by an interdisciplinary team of conservators, historians and chemists from the IIPC-TAREA that elucidated fundamental aspects of a painting of San Luis Gonzaga from the South American colonial period, deteriorated but with an important documentary value. In the case here presented a minimal intervention restoration criterion was applied and the nap bond method used proved to be the most suitable alternative lining for this particular situation. Fil: Morales, Ana. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigaciones sobre el Patrimonio Cultural; Argentina Fil: Gallegos, Damasia. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigaciones sobre el Patrimonio Cultural; Argentina Fil: Siracusano, Gabriela Silvana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tres de Febrero. Instituto de Investigaciones en Arte y Cultura "Dr. Norberto Griffa"; Argentina Fil: Rodriguez Romero, Agustina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tres de Febrero. Instituto de Investigaciones en Arte y Cultura "Dr. Norberto Griffa"; Argentina Fil: Marte, Fernando. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigaciones sobre el Patrimonio Cultural; Argentina

The painting Proas Iluminadas (Illuminated Bows) by Benito Quinquela Martin is studied by Raman spectroscopy in order to analyse the technique and the pigments employed by the artist: ultramarine blue, carbon black, cadmium-sulphure based compounds for the hue of yellow, orange and red; also zinc white, barium yellow, massicot yellow and viridian were observed. The importance of using different excitation laser lines in the analysis of mixtures of pigments is highlighted. The Raman mapping analysis of cross section samples shows the way the artist composed the ground layer: a lead white stratum over a calcite one. It also allows distinguishing between a mixture of components and strata superposition, both presenting the same appearance under an optical microscope. This paper provides information about the materials and techniques used in a period of Argentine art not studied before from this point of view.

Alrededor de 1930 el pintor argentino Antonio Berni desarrolla el “Nuevo Realismo”. Dentro de esta corriente ejecuta grandes composiciones, con grupos de campesinos y obreros como la obra que aquí presentamos: “Chacareros” (1935). El soporte está constituido por la unión de varias telas de arpillera precedentes de sacos de azúcar cosidas entre sí. Su elección no fue una anécdota, sino la búsqueda consciente de un recurso expresivo. El importante deterioro de las fibras, ponía en riesgo la supervivencia de esta pintura, por lo que una intervención se hacía necesaria. El presente trabajo muestra el tratamiento de restauración de “Chacareros”. Este se realizó atendiendo al difícil problema de un soporte atípico y las exigencias de historicidad que el mismo imponía. Este proyecto ha dado también la oportunidad de examinar esta obra emblemática de la pintura argentina del siglo XX, e iniciar así, por primera vez, las investigaciones científico-técnicas para caracterizar los materiales y las técnicas pictóricas de Berni.