Case Studies

Our lab features an educational collection of artworks and materials used as case studies to demonstrate the practical application of our instruments and methods for art examination — from imaging to spectroscopy, including Technical Photography, Raman spectroscopy, XRF spectroscopy, and more. These case studies are an essential part of our teaching and research activity, allowing us to connect theory with hands-on practice.

Working with real objects provides a deeper understanding of the techniques, their potential, and their limitations. Through direct examples, we can show how different analytical tools complement one another and how the results contribute to the study, documentation, and conservation of works of art. The educational collection includes a wide range of materials and conditions, offering situations similar to those encountered in professional conservation studios, museums, and archaeological research.

We believe that case studies are among the most effective ways to learn. Seeing how imaging and spectroscopy are applied in concrete situations helps develop both technical competence and critical thinking — the ability to interpret data in context, evaluate results, and make informed decisions.

We also hope that the examples presented here will inspire you to explore your own collection — whether it belongs to a private owner, a museum, or an institutional archive. Each artwork has its own story to tell, and scientific examination offers powerful tools to uncover and understand it.

We periodically add new case studies to this educational collection, reflecting ongoing research and new applications of our methods. Keep an eye on this page for updates and discoveries from our lab.

16th-century Antiphonary parchment sheet — 16th-century Antiphonary parchment

17th-century print of the island of Seram in the Moluccas — 17th-century print of the island of Seram

Early 20th century Chinese painting on silk — Early 20th-century Chinese painting on silk

16th-century woodcut leaf from the Romische Historie — 16th-century woodcut leaf

Early 20th-century Persian manuscript with a drawing attached over the text — Early 20th-century Persian manuscript

15th-Century Icon – Modern Study Replica — 15th-Century Icon – Modern Replica

19th-century icon “Feast of the Pokrov (Protection) of the Veil of the Mother of God” — 19th-century icon “Pokrov”

19th-century icon Saint Nicholas

19th-century Sikh school miniature painting — 19th-century Sikh school miniature

#57. Mid-20th-century Italian test plate for underglaze colors — Mid-20th-century Italian test plate

19th-century Color Chart Ratti Ernesto & C - Turin -Italy — 19th-century Color Chart “Ratti Ernesto & C” – Turin -Italy

19th-century portrait in Orientalist style on metal plate

19th-century South-Asia Islamic manuscript

19th-century North Indian Manuscript with miniature

MADONNA UMBRIA — 17th century Umbrian School Madonna and Child

American daguerreotype dated 1850 — American daguerreotype dated around 1850

Visitation between Saint Joseph and Saint Zachary (1480–1490) by Antonino Giuffrè (Taormina, Sicily) — Visitation, Antonino Giuffrè, Taormina, Sicily

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.