Combining multispectral images with X-ray fluorescence to quantify the distribution of pigments in the frigidarium of the Sarno Baths, Pompeii
Source abstract
Abstract
Abstract Multispectral imaging is used to identify and semi-quantify the distribution of pigments in wall paintings based on mineral-specific band ratios. The western wall in the frigidarium of the Sarno baths in Pompeii was imaged using VIS-IR band-pass filters, stacked as multispectral data, and different pigments were measured using portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) and fiber optic reflected spectroscopy (FORS) to determine their chemical composition and spectral signature. Cuprorivaite and hematite were found to be the main minerals in blue and red pigments, with higher amounts of copper and iron respectively. Proportional relations were found between cuprorivaite specific band ratios from multispectral and FORS data and the intensity of copper in pXRF spectra, allowing to map the mineral content on a large scale and determine their relative concentrations. These results were confirmed by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and thin section analysis on painted fragments that were detached from the wall paintings and found below. This contribute indicates that on-site portable instrumentation could identify specific pigments and determine their 2D distributions based on non-invasive diagnostics of chemical composition and spectral reflectance in wall paintings.
Source: openaire · Quality: candidate unverified · Source record ↗
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Cultural Heritage Materials Analysis · Building materials and conservation · Conservation Techniques and Studies
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
References (28)
Show source-provided references
1. A whole spectroscopic mapping approach for studying the spatial distribution of pigments in paintings10.1007/s00339-016-0345-8 ↗
2. Field and laboratory spectroscopic methods for the identification of pigments in a northern Italian eleventh century fresco cycle10.1366/000370202760171482 ↗
3. Use of imaging spectroscopy, fiber optic reflectance spectroscopy, and X-ray fluorescence to map and identify pigments in illuminated manuscripts10.1179/2047058412Y.0000000078 ↗
4. Visible-induced luminescence reveals invisible rays shining from Christ in the early Christian wall painting of the Transfiguration in Shivta10.1371/journal.pone.0185149 ↗
5. Remote spectral imaging with simultaneous extraction of 3D topography for historical wall paintings10.1016/j.isprsjprs.2014.05.011 ↗
6. New insights for conservation of Villa Imperiale (Pompeii, Italy) through nondestructive exploration10.1080/15583058.2011.593392 ↗
7. Multispectral light metering system for cultural heritage diagnosis and conservation, InSPIE Optical Metrology
8. Identification of pigments by multispectral imaging; a flowchart method10.1186/2050-7445-2-8 ↗
9. Multispectral imaging of pigments with a digital camera and 12 interferential filters
10. Fiber-optic Fourier transform mid-infrared reflectance spectroscopy: a suitable technique for in situ studies of mural paintings10.1366/000370207780220840 ↗
11. Hyperspectral remote sensing techniques applied to the non-invasive investigation of mural paintings: a feasibility study carried out on a wall painting by Beato Angelico in Florence. InSPIE Optical Metrology
12. Visible and infrared imaging spectroscopy of paintings and improved reflectography10.1186/s40494-016-0075-4 ↗
13. Raman spectroscopy as a tool to diagnose the impact and conservation state of Pompeian second and fourth style wall paintings exposed to diverse environments (House of Marcus Lucretius)10.1002/jrs.2671 ↗
14. Ariadne's house (Pompeii, Italy) wall paintings: a multidisciplinary study of its present state focused on a future restoration and preventive conservation10.3989/mc.2012.00812 ↗
15. Invasive and non-invasive analyses for knowledge and conservation of Roman wall paintings of the Villa of the Papyri in Herculaneum10.1016/j.microc.2014.08.016 ↗
16. Multispectral image acquisition with flash light sources
17. Niccolini · 1896
18. Koloski-Ostrow · 1990
19. Ioppolo · 1992
20. The pigments of the frigidarium in the Sarno Baths, Pompeii: identification, stratigraphy and weathering10.1016/j.culher.2019.04.021 ↗
21. Analysis of on-site multispectral images: a case study of degraded wall paintings in Sarno Baths, Pompeii
22. Xenon flash for reflectance and luminescence (multispectral) imaging in cultural heritage applications
23. Recovery of archaeological wall paintings using novel multispectral imaging approaches10.1186/2050-7445-1-33 ↗
24. Recovery of a lost wall painting at the Etruscan Tomb of the Blue Demons in Tarquinia (Viterbo, Italy) by multispectral reflectometry and UV fluorescence imaging10.1111/arcm.12423 ↗
25. Reflectance hyperspectral imaging for investigation of works of art: old master paintings and illuminated manuscripts10.1021/acs.accounts.6b00048 ↗
26. Multispectral acquisition of large-sized pictorial surfaces
27. Reflectance imaging spectroscopy and synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence mapping used in a technical study of The Blue Room by Pablo Picasso10.1186/s40494-017-0126-5 ↗
28. Integrated methods for reconstructing the decoration and production process of the frigidarium wall paintings at the Sarno Baths, Pompeii10.1016/j.culher.2019.04.020 ↗