- Understand the historical significance of zinc-based pigments as replacements for lead white.
- Identify the composition and characteristics of zinc white and lithopone pigments.
- Analyze XRF spectra to distinguish zinc signals from these pigments.
- Pure zinc cube for baseline testing.
- Pigments Checker Standard containing zinc white and lithopone samples.
- XRF spectrometer with routine filter setup.
- Introduction to Zinc-Based Pigments
- Discuss the historical context of zinc white and lithopone as safer alternatives to lead white.
- Highlight the composition of zinc white (zinc oxide) and lithopone (zinc sulfide and barium sulfate).
- Analyzing Pure Zinc
- Use the XRF spectrometer to examine the spectrum of a pure zinc cube.
- Examining Zinc-Based Pigments
- Analyze the XRF spectra of zinc white and lithopone samples from the Pigments Checker Standard.
- Discussion of Results
- Discuss how the presence of barium in lithopone affects zinc signal intensity.
- Highlight the reliability of XRF analysis for identifying zinc-based pigments, even in small concentrations.
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
