Records |
Author |
MacLennan, D.; Trentelman, K.; Szafran, Y.; Woollett, A.T.; Delaney, J.K.; Janssens, K.; Dik, J. |
Title |
Rembrandt's An Old Man in Military Costume : combining hyperspectral and MA-XRF imaging to understand how two paintings were painted on a single panel |
Type |
A1 Journal article |
Year |
2019 |
Publication |
Journal of the American Institute for Conservation |
Abbreviated Journal |
|
Volume |
58 |
Issue |
1-2 |
Pages |
54-68 |
Keywords |
A1 Journal article; Art; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation) |
Abstract |
Over the past several decades the painting An Old Man in Military Costume by Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn (ca. 1630-31; J. Paul Getty Museum, 78.PB.246) has been the subject of a number of investigations carried out in order to better visualize a second painting beneath the surface figure. The underlying image – the head and shoulders of a man wearing a cloak – is oriented 180 degrees from the upper image and appears to be fairly complete. Scanning macro x-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy reveals the face is painted with lead white and a mercury-containing pigment (likely vermilion), and the cloak is painted with a copper-containing pigment. Following the revelation and digital color reconstruction of the underlying figure, a number of questions still remained. Here, through the use of infrared reflectance imaging spectroscopy (i.e., hyperspectral imaging) and macro-XRF imaging spectroscopy, together with cross-sections taken from targeted areas, the sequence of painting in both compositions was explored. Of particular interest was the discovery of evidence of multiple attempts to situate the lower figure, and the subsequent application of a blocking-out layer over the lower figure before the artist rotated the panel and executed the upper figure. In addition, examination of the placement of the two images on the panel adds to our understanding of the subtle complexities of Rembrandt's working process. RESUMEAu cours des dernieres decennies, la peinture Le vieil homme en costume militaire de Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn (ca. 1630-31; J. Paul Getty Museum, 78.PB.246) a fait l'objet de nombreuses investigations menees dans le but de mieux visualiser une seconde peinture dissimulee sous la surface. L'image sous-jacente – la tete et les epaules d'un homme vetu d'une cape – est orientee a 180 degres de de l'image du vieil homme, et elle semble assez complete. La spectroscopie a macro-balayage de fluorescence X (MA-XRF) revele que le visage est peint avec du blanc de plomb et un pigment contenant du mercure (comme le vermillon), et que la cape est peinte avec un pigment a base de cuivre. Plusieurs questions restaient en suspens suite a cette decouverte et a la reconstruction numerique en couleur de l'image sous-jacente. Grace a l'emploi de techniques d'imagerie comme la spectroscopie proche infrarouge (ex., imagerie hyperspectrale) et l'imagerie MA-XRF, combinees a l'analyse de coupes stratigraphiques prelevees a des endroits cibles, on a pu explorer la sequence d'application des couches picturales de chacune des deux compositions. Une decouverte particulierement interessante est la preuve que l'artiste a fait plusieurs tentatives pour positionner la figure sous-jacente puis, a ensuite applique une couche pour la recouvrir completement avant de faire pivoter le panneau et peindre la figure du vieil homme. De plus, l'examen du positionnement des deux images sur le panneau ajoute a notre comprehension de la subtile complexite du processus de creation de Rembrandt. Traduit par Elisabeth Forest. RESUMONas ultimas decadas, a pintura Um Velho em Traje Militar, de Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn (ca. 1630-31; J. Paul Getty Museum, 78.PB.246), foi objeto de uma serie de investigacoes realizadas para visualizar melhor uma segunda pintura abaixo da figura aparente. A imagem subjacente – a cabeca e os ombros de um homem usando uma capa – e orientada a 180 graus da imagem superior e parece estar bastante completa. O macro mapeamento de imagem por espectroscopia de fluorescencia de raios X (FRX) revela que a face e pintada com branco de chumbo e um pigmento contendo mercurio (provavelmente vermelhAo), e a capa e pintada com um pigmento contendo cobre. Apos a descoberta e reconstrucAo digital da cor da figura subjacente, uma serie de questoes ainda permanecem. EntAo, atraves da utilizacAo do mapeamento por imagem de espectroscopia de refletancia por infravermelhos (i.e. mapeamento hiperespectral) e macro mapeamento por imagem de FRX, juntamente com cortes estratigraficos de amostras retiradas de areas de interesse, a pintura em ambas as composicoes foi explorada. De particular interesse foi a descoberta de evidencias de multiplas tentativas de posicionar a figura subjacente, e a subsequente aplicacAo de uma camada intermediaria de separacAo sobre a figura inferior antes do artista girar o painel e executar a figura superior. Alem disso, o exame da colocacAo das duas imagens no painel aumenta nossa compreensAo das sutis complexidades do processo de trabalho de Rembrandt. Traduzido por Marcia Rozzi e Beatriz Haspo. RESUMENA lo largo de las ultimas decadas, la pintura Un anciano con traje militar de Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn (ca. 1630-31; J. Paul Getty Museum, 78.PB.246) ha sido objeto de varias investigaciones realizadas con el fin de visualizar mejor una segunda pintura debajo de la figura de la superficie. La imagen subyacente, la cabeza y los hombros de un hombre que lleva una capa, esta orientada a 180 grados de la imagen superior y parece estar bastante completa. La espectroscopia de fluorescencia de rayos X (XRF) de barrido revela que la cara esta pintada con blanco de plomo y un pigmento que contiene mercurio (probablemente bermellon), y la capa esta pintada con un pigmento que contiene cobre. Tras la revelacion y la reconstruccion digital del color de la figura subyacente, aun quedaban algunas preguntas. Aqui, por medio del uso de la espectroscopia de imagenes de reflectancia infrarroja (es decir, imagenes hiperespectrales) e imagenes macro-XRF, junto con las secciones transversales tomadas de areas especificas, se exploro la secuencia de pintura en ambas composiciones. De particular interes fue el descubrimiento de evidencia de multiples intentos de situar la figura inferior, y la aplicacion posterior de una capa de bloqueo sobre la figura inferior antes de que el artista rotara el panel y ejecutara la figura superior. Ademas, el examen de la colocacion de las dos imagenes en el panel contribuye a nuestra comprension de las sutiles complejidades del proceso de trabajo de Rembrandt. Traduccion: Amparo Rueda. |
Address |
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Corporate Author |
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Thesis |
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Publisher |
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Place of Publication |
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Editor |
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Language |
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Wos |
000468065200005 |
Publication Date |
2018-12-18 |
Series Editor |
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Series Title |
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Abbreviated Series Title |
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Series Volume |
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Series Issue |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
0197-1360 |
ISBN |
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Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles |
Impact Factor |
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Times cited |
2 |
Open Access |
|
Notes |
; ; |
Approved |
Most recent IF: NA |
Call Number ![sorted by Call Number field, descending order (down)](img/sort_desc.gif) |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:160407 |
Serial |
5811 |
Permanent link to this record |
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Author |
Trentelman, K.; Janssens, K.; van der Snickt, G.; Szafran, Y.; Woollett, A.T.; Dik, J. |
Title |
Rembrandt's An Old Man in Military Costume: the underlying image re-examined |
Type |
A1 Journal article |
Year |
2015 |
Publication |
Applied physics A : materials science & processing |
Abbreviated Journal |
Appl Phys A-Mater |
Volume |
121 |
Issue |
3 |
Pages |
801-811 |
Keywords |
A1 Journal article; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation) |
Abstract |
The painting An Old Man in Military Costume in the J. Paul Getty Museum, by Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn, was studied using two complementary, element-specific imaging techniques-neutron activation autoradiography (NAAR) and macro-X-ray fluorescence (MA-XRF) mapping-to reveal the second, hidden painting. NAAR provided a strong image of the face and cloak of the underlying figure, along with an indication of the chemical composition. The single-element distribution maps produced by MA-XRF mapping provided additional details into the shape of the underlying image and the composition of the pigments used. The underlying figure's face is richer in mercury, indicative of the pigment vermilion, than the face of the figure on the surface. Likewise, the cloak of the underlying figure is richer in copper than the surface figure though the identity of the copper-containing pigment cannot be determined from these data. The use of iron earth pigments, specifically Si-rich umbers, is indicated through the complementary information provided by the NAAR and MA-XRF maps. These data are used to create a false color digital reconstruction, yielding the most detailed representation of the underlying painting to date. |
Address |
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Corporate Author |
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Thesis |
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Publisher |
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Place of Publication |
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Editor |
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Language |
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Wos |
000364914100003 |
Publication Date |
2015-08-31 |
Series Editor |
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Series Title |
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Abbreviated Series Title |
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Series Volume |
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Series Issue |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
0947-8396 |
ISBN |
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Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles |
Impact Factor |
1.455 |
Times cited |
22 |
Open Access |
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Notes |
; The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance of all those who aided in the examination of this painting over the decades, that has culminated in the work presented here. Particular thanks go to Mark Leonard (former head of Paintings Conservation at the J. Paul Getty Museum) and Henry Prask (NIST) for carrying out the NAAR analysis; John Twilley (former GCI Scientist) for early investigations; Andrea Sartorius (former JPGM Paintings intern) for creating a mock-up painting used in earlier phases of this work; Peter Reishig (former GCI intern) for compiling the NAAR data; Catherine Patterson, Lynn Lee, and David Carson (GCI Science) and Gene Karraker (JPGM Paintings Conservation) for helping with the setup and operation of the M6 Jetstream; and Giacomo Chiari (former head of GCI Science) for performing the XRD analysis. Koen Janssens and Geert van der Snickt acknowledge the Fund Inbev-Baillet Latour for financial support. Joris Dik acknowledges the help of the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) in the form of a VIDI grant in the Innovational Research Incentive Scheme. ; |
Approved |
Most recent IF: 1.455; 2015 IF: 1.704 |
Call Number ![sorted by Call Number field, descending order (down)](img/sort_desc.gif) |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:130289 |
Serial |
5812 |
Permanent link to this record |