19th-century Color Chart “Ratti Ernesto & C” – Turin -Italy
This late-19th-century colour chart by Ernesto Ratti (Turin, Italy) presents an exceptional example of industrial visual communication. Precisely printed and richly tinted, the chart showcases a systematic palette of hues designed for practical use in textile finishing or surface treatment. Each swatch is meticulously arranged and labelled, reflecting the era’s growing emphasis on colour standardisation and commercial reproducibility. Crafted in Turin—an early centre of Italian manufacturing and design—the chart bridges artistic intention and industrial need. Its elegant typography, distinctive small-format, and careful condition make it a valuable artifact of late-19th-century colour technology.
CHSOS Collection – item #64
Technical Photography
Vintage color charts are invaluable tools for heritage scientists, offering concrete insight into the pigments used in a specific time and place.
This color chart is a printed advertising leaflet with some color illustrations (blue) in the text, including one of the factory; color sample sheets, with various types of shades applied in their respective spaces.
This color chart dates to the late 19th century, so modern pigments—such as cadmium-based colors—are absent. In fact, the infrared fluorescence (IRF) image appears completely dark.
However, techniques such as infrared (IR), reflected UV (UVR), and UV fluorescence (UVF) imaging can still provide useful preliminary information for pigment identification.
Learn Technical Photography for Art Examination
Technical Photography is one of the most powerful—and often overlooked—tools for the scientific examination of art and archaeology. If you are a conservator, scientist, or art collector and you are not yet familiar with this method, it is truly a missed opportunity. Using simple, affordable equipment and a clear methodology, Technical Photography allows you to reveal underdrawings, retouchings, material differences, and conservation issues in a completely non-invasive way. Far from being complex or inaccessible, it is an easy entry point into scientific analysis. In many cases, Technical Photography represents the first essential step toward a deeper understanding of artworks and archaeological objects.
Scientific Art Examination – Resources:
Getty Conservation Institute (GCI) – USA
The British Museum – Scientific Research Department – UK
Scientific Research Department – The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA
C2RMF (Centre de Recherche et de Restauration des Musées de France) – France
Rijksmuseum – Science Department – Netherlands
