A Multianalytical Approach for the Characterisation of Materials on Selected Artworks by Monogrammist IP
This paper presents an investigation of wooden artworks from the collection of the National Gallery Prague created by Monogrammist IP–one of the top carvers of the Salzburg-Passau region at the beginning of the 16th century. His wood reliefs were examined to gain a better understanding of the histor...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-12-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/1/331 |
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| author | Radka Šefců Štěpánka Chlumská Václava Antušková Daniel Vavřík Ivana Kumpová Václav Pitthard |
| author_facet | Radka Šefců Štěpánka Chlumská Václava Antušková Daniel Vavřík Ivana Kumpová Václav Pitthard |
| author_sort | Radka Šefců |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper presents an investigation of wooden artworks from the collection of the National Gallery Prague created by Monogrammist IP–one of the top carvers of the Salzburg-Passau region at the beginning of the 16th century. His wood reliefs were examined to gain a better understanding of the historical techniques used in medieval art workshops. The internal structure of the small relief Visitation was analysed using computed tomography. Tomographic reconstruction made it possible to distinguish wood species, observe the internal structure of the artwork in detail, study the technological procedures and identify earlier repairs, additions and damages. Tomographic investigation proved the use of four types of wood on the relief Visitation, most likely pear, lime, unspecified softwood and other different species used for joining dowels. A combination of non-invasive and micro-destructive analytical techniques was employed for the chemical characterisation of the materials in the surface layers of the artworks. Photomicrographs of the surface were taken to provide material for the initial investigation. Non-invasive material research was conducted using a portable X-ray fluorescence analyser and, in selected cases, an external reflection infrared spectrometer. The detailed analyses on the micro-samples was carried out by optical microscopy, micro-Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry and gas chromatography with mass spectrometry. A glaze layer based on protein with earth pigment was identified on the relief Christ the Saviour from Death. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T09:54:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-10e11c4efd3f4c17a93d45063eb86963 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1944 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T09:54:38Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Materials |
| spelling | doaj.art-10e11c4efd3f4c17a93d45063eb869632023-11-16T15:50:13ZengMDPI AGMaterials1996-19442022-12-0116133110.3390/ma16010331A Multianalytical Approach for the Characterisation of Materials on Selected Artworks by Monogrammist IPRadka Šefců0Štěpánka Chlumská1Václava Antušková2Daniel Vavřík3Ivana Kumpová4Václav Pitthard5National Gallery Prague, Staroměstskénáměstí 12, 110 15 Prague, Czech RepublicNational Gallery Prague, Staroměstskénáměstí 12, 110 15 Prague, Czech RepublicNational Gallery Prague, Staroměstskénáměstí 12, 110 15 Prague, Czech RepublicInstitute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prosecká 809/76, 190 00 Prague, Czech RepublicInstitute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prosecká 809/76, 190 00 Prague, Czech RepublicKunsthistorisches Museum Wien, Burgring 5, 1010 Wien, AustriaThis paper presents an investigation of wooden artworks from the collection of the National Gallery Prague created by Monogrammist IP–one of the top carvers of the Salzburg-Passau region at the beginning of the 16th century. His wood reliefs were examined to gain a better understanding of the historical techniques used in medieval art workshops. The internal structure of the small relief Visitation was analysed using computed tomography. Tomographic reconstruction made it possible to distinguish wood species, observe the internal structure of the artwork in detail, study the technological procedures and identify earlier repairs, additions and damages. Tomographic investigation proved the use of four types of wood on the relief Visitation, most likely pear, lime, unspecified softwood and other different species used for joining dowels. A combination of non-invasive and micro-destructive analytical techniques was employed for the chemical characterisation of the materials in the surface layers of the artworks. Photomicrographs of the surface were taken to provide material for the initial investigation. Non-invasive material research was conducted using a portable X-ray fluorescence analyser and, in selected cases, an external reflection infrared spectrometer. The detailed analyses on the micro-samples was carried out by optical microscopy, micro-Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry and gas chromatography with mass spectrometry. A glaze layer based on protein with earth pigment was identified on the relief Christ the Saviour from Death.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/1/331wooden artworksMonogrammist IPmaterial analysiscomputed tomographyglaze layer |
| spellingShingle | Radka Šefců Štěpánka Chlumská Václava Antušková Daniel Vavřík Ivana Kumpová Václav Pitthard A Multianalytical Approach for the Characterisation of Materials on Selected Artworks by Monogrammist IP Materials wooden artworks Monogrammist IP material analysis computed tomography glaze layer |
| title | A Multianalytical Approach for the Characterisation of Materials on Selected Artworks by Monogrammist IP |
| title_full | A Multianalytical Approach for the Characterisation of Materials on Selected Artworks by Monogrammist IP |
| title_fullStr | A Multianalytical Approach for the Characterisation of Materials on Selected Artworks by Monogrammist IP |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Multianalytical Approach for the Characterisation of Materials on Selected Artworks by Monogrammist IP |
| title_short | A Multianalytical Approach for the Characterisation of Materials on Selected Artworks by Monogrammist IP |
| title_sort | multianalytical approach for the characterisation of materials on selected artworks by monogrammist ip |
| topic | wooden artworks Monogrammist IP material analysis computed tomography glaze layer |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/1/331 |
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