IRR – Infrared Reflectography – Pigments Checker “Modern & Contemporary Art”

This page presents far-infrared imaging methods applied to the Pigments Checker – Modern and Contemporary Art. It includes both infrared reflectography (IRR) and the less common infrared reflectography fluorescence (IRRF), carried out with visible (IRR-VIS) and ultraviolet (IRR-UV) illumination. While IRR is traditionally used to reveal underdrawings and changes beneath the paint layers, IRRF has proven effective in mapping certain modern pigments.

IRR - Infrared Reflectography

IRRF - Infrared Reflectography Fluorescence

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IRRF-UV

Pigments showing IRRF with the UV lamp Fabrizio (in descending emission-intensity order):
PY 53 – nickel titanium yellow
PB 33- manganese blue
cadmium red (TP-MSI calibration card)
PG 36 – phthalo green YS

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IRRF-VIS

Pigments showing IRRF with the VIS lamp Alice(in descending emission-intensity order): 
PB 33- manganese blue
PY 53 – nickel titanium yellow
cadmium red (TP-MSI calibration card)
PG 36 – phthalo green YS

 

Resources

National Gallery (London) – Raphael’s Madonna of the Pinks
The National Gallery has pioneered the use of infrared imaging to study underdrawings in paintings. For example, the gallery’s infrared imaging study of Raphael’s Madonna of the Pinks (~1506–07), revealing an exquisite underdrawing beneath the paint layers.