Mobile micro-X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF) on medieval paintings

Abstract

X-ray fluorescence has long been applied to objects of art and archaeology for non-destructive elemental analysis. When the object under investigation is either too big or too fragile to be moved a mobile instrument is needed which can be brought on site. A short overview of the development of techniques and applications shall be given in the paper. Then three case studies are reported in which ArtTax/Artax spectrographs were applied for the analysis of medieval paintings. Experimental issues are discussed with respect to the application to paintings as well. © Schweizerische Chemische Gesellschaft.