- Analyze the spectral features of chromium in its pure form and in various pigments.
- Explore the historical timeline and applications of chromium-based pigments in art.
- Compare the spectral behavior of chromium in different compounds, including historical and modern pigments.
- Pure chromium sample.
- Pigments containing chromium, including chrome yellow, viridian, chrome oxide green, cobalt chromite blue, strontium yellow, and chrome titanate orange from Pigments Checker Standard and Modern Art.
- XRF spectrometer with low keV filter setup.
- Present chromium’s position in the periodic table (atomic number 24) and its spectral lines (Kα at 5.4 keV and Kβ at 5.9 keV).
- Examine a cube of pure chromium to observe the spectrum, emphasizing the strong Kα peak (~150,000 counts) under low keV setup.
- Introduce the Pigments Checker timeline to contextualize the development of chromium pigments.
- Analyze spectra of chrome yellow (lead chromate, commercialized in 1816), highlighting the lower count (~2,000 counts) due to lead’s X-ray absorption.
- Compare this to chrome oxide pigments, such as viridian (1838) and chrome oxide green (1862), emphasizing stronger chromium peaks due its higher chromium concentration.
- Explore cobalt chromite blue (1935)
- Discuss modern pigments like strontium chromate (strontium yellow) and chrome titanate orange.
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
