Mobile hyperspectral imaging for the non-invasive study of a mural painting in the Belves Castle (France, 15th C).

Abstract

Art History and the conservation of paintings require knowledge of the artist’s materials used, such as pigments, binders and preparatory layers. This information can also provide insight into the artist’s working methods. In recent years, research carried out mostly on paintings has proved that imaging spectroscopy techniques can be used efficiently for material identification and for mapping on artworks. The development of such in situ tools capable of examining the entire surface of a painting is of interest to the fields of history of art techniques and conservation In the context of a research project on the analytical study of the mediaeval mural painting in the Belves Castle (XV century), the potential of a new mobile system for hyperspectral imaging is explored. The pigments identified on the Belves mural paintings correspond to “classic” materials used in medieval times (red lead, red ochre, calcite and carbon black). From the methodologic point of view, the combination of methods has shown its efficiency. HSI allows a global vision and mapping of the pigments; point methods (Raman, EDXS) complete the results of reflectance spectra data.