- Identify orpiment and realgar as arsenic-based pigments.
- Analyze the spectral signals of arsenic in pigments using XRF spectroscopy.
- Orpiment and realgar samples from Pigments Checker STANDARD.
- XRF spectroscopy with Routine filter setup
- Introduction to Arsenic-Based Pigments
- Discuss the historical use of orpiment and realgar.
- Hands-On Analysis of Orpiment and Realgar
- Examine orpiment (As₂S₃) and realgar (As₄S₄) samples.
- Compare spectral intensities of arsenic in orpiment and realgar.
To reinforce the concepts discussed here, we also provide a video lesson that visually walks through the key points of this topic. Watching the video alongside the text can help you better understand and apply these ideas in practice.
The course XRF Spectroscopy for Art Examination introduces conservators, art historians, and scientists with interest in Art to the principles and practical applications of X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy in the examination of artworks. The course starts with basic principles of XRF and gradually explores its role in identifying materials and methods used in the creation and conservation of art.
Course Objectives
- Understand the fundamentals of XRF spectroscopy and how it applies to the analysis of art.
- Learn the key features and limitations of XRF for examining art and archaeology.
- Gain skills in interpreting XRF spectra to identify specific elements in paint layers, inks and metals.
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
