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Author Cotte, M.; Susini, J.; Dik, J.; Janssens, K.
Title Synchrotron-based X-ray absorption spectroscopy for art conservation: looking back and looking forward Type A1 Journal article
Year 2010 Publication Accounts of chemical research Abbreviated Journal Accounts Chem Res
Volume 43 Issue 6 Pages 705-714
Keywords A1 Journal article; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)
Abstract A variety of analytical techniques augmented by the use of synchrotron radiation (SR), such as X-ray fluorescence (SR-XRF) and X-ray diffraction (SR-XRD), are now readily available, and they differ little, conceptually, from their common laboratory counterparts. Because of numerous advantages afforded by SR-based techniques over benchtop versions, however, SR methods have become popular with archaeologists, art historians, curators, and other researchers in the field of cultural heritage (CH). Although the CH community now commonly uses both SR-XRF and SR-XRD, the use of synchrotron-based X-ray absorption spectroscopy (SR-XAS) techniques remains marginal, mostly because CH specialists rarely interact with SR physicists. In this Account, we examine the basic principles and capabilities of XAS techniques in art preservation. XAS techniques offer a combination of features particularly well-suited for the chemical analysis of works of art. The methods are noninvasive, have low detection limits, afford high lateral resolution, and provide exceptional chemical sensitivity. These characteristics are highly desirable for the chemical characterization of precious, heterogeneous, and complex materials. In particular, the chemical mapping capability, with high spatial resolution that provides information about local composition and chemical states, even for trace elements, is a unique asset. The chemistry involved in both the objects history (that is, during fabrication) and future (that is, during preservation and restoration treatments) can be addressed by XAS. On the one hand, many studies seek to explain optical effects occurring in historical glasses or ceramics by probing the molecular environment of relevant chromophores. Hence, XAS can provide insight into craft skills that were mastered years, decades, or centuries ago but were lost over the course of time. On the other hand, XAS can also be used to characterize unwanted reactions, which are then considered alteration phenomena and can dramatically alter the objects original visual properties. In such cases, the bulk elemental composition is usually unchanged. Hence, monitoring oxidation state (or, more generally, other chemical modifications) can be of great importance. Recent applications of XAS in art conservation are reviewed and new trends are discussed, highlighting the value (and future possibilities) of XAS, which remains, given its potential, underutilized in the CH community.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000278842500003 Publication Date 2010-01-08
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0001-4842 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 20.268 Times cited 74 Open Access
Notes ; ; Approved Most recent IF: 20.268; 2010 IF: 21.852
Call Number (up) UA @ admin @ c:irua:83982 Serial 5861
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Author Janssens, K.; Dik, J.; Cotte, M.; Susini, J.
Title Photon-based techniques for nondestructive subsurface analysis of painted cultural heritage artifacts Type A1 Journal article
Year 2010 Publication Accounts of chemical research Abbreviated Journal Accounts Chem Res
Volume 43 Issue 6 Pages 814-825
Keywords A1 Journal article; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)
Abstract Often, just micrometers below a paintings surface lies a wealth of information, both with Old Masters such as Peter Paul Rubens and Rembrandt van Rijn and with more recent artists of great renown such as Vincent Van Gogh and James Ensor. Subsurface layers may include underdrawing, underpainting, and alterations, and in a growing number of cases conservators have discovered abandoned compositions on paintings, illustrating artists practice of reusing a canvas or panel. The standard methods for studying the inner structure of cultural heritage (CH) artifacts are infrared reflectography and X-ray radiography, techniques that are optionally complemented with the microscopic analysis of cross-sectioned samples. These methods have limitations, but recently, a number of fundamentally new approaches for fully imaging the buildup of hidden paint layers and other complex three-dimensional (3D) substructures have been put into practice. In this Account, we discuss these developments and their recent practical application with CH artifacts. We begin with a tabular summary of 14 IR- and X-ray-based imaging methods and then continue with a discussion of each technique, illustrating CH applications with specific case studies. X-ray-based tomographic and laminographic techniques can be used to generate 3D renditions of artifacts of varying dimensions. These methods are proving invaluable for exploring inner structures, identifying the conservation state, and postulating the original manufacturing technology of metallic and other sculptures. In the analysis of paint layers, terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) can highlight interfaces between layers in a stratigraphic buildup, whereas macrosopic scanning X-ray fluorescence (MA-XRF) has been employed to measure the distribution of pigments within these layers. This combination of innovative methods provides topographic and color information about the micrometer depth scale, allowing us to look into paintings in an entirely new manner. Over the past five years, several new variants of traditional IR- and X-ray-based imaging methods have been implemented by conservators and museums, and the first reports have begun to emerge in the primary research literature. Applying these state-of-the-art techniques in a complementary fashion affords a more comprehensive view of paintings and other artworks.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000278842500013 Publication Date 2010-05-12
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0001-4842 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 20.268 Times cited 78 Open Access
Notes ; This research was supported by the Interuniversity Attraction Poles Programme-Belgian Science Policy (IUAP VI/16). The text also presents results of FWO (Brussels, Belgium) projects nr. G.0704.08 and G.0179.09 and from the UA-BOF GOA programme. ; Approved Most recent IF: 20.268; 2010 IF: 21.852
Call Number (up) UA @ admin @ c:irua:83983 Serial 5772
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Author Monico, L.; van der Snickt, G.; Janssens, K.; de Nolf, W.; Miliani, C.; Dik, J.; Radepont, M.; Hendriks, E.; Geldof, M.; Cotte, M.
Title Degradation process of lead chromate in paintings by Vincent van Gogh studied by means of synchrotron X-ray spectromicroscopy and related methods : 2 : original paint layer samples Type A1 Journal article
Year 2011 Publication Analytical chemistry Abbreviated Journal Anal Chem
Volume 83 Issue 4 Pages 1224-1231
Keywords A1 Journal article; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)
Abstract The darkening of the original yellow areas painted with the chrome yellow pigment (PbCrO4, PbCrO4·xPbSO4, or PbCrO4·xPbO) is a phenomenon widely observed on several paintings by Vincent van Gogh, such as the famous different versions of Sunflowers. During our previous investigations on artificially aged model samples of lead chromate, we established for the first time that darkening of chrome yellow is caused by reduction of PbCrO4 to Cr2O3·2H2O (viridian green), likely accompanied by the presence of another Cr(III) compound, such as either Cr2(SO4)3·H2O or (CH3CO2)7Cr3(OH)2 [chromium(III) acetate hydroxide]. In the second part of this work, in order to demonstrate that this reduction phenomenon effectively takes place in real paintings, we study original paint samples from two paintings of V. van Gogh. As with the model samples, in view of the thin superficial alteration layers that are present, high lateral resolution spectroscopic methods that make use of synchrotron radiation (SR), such as microscopic X-ray absorption near edge (μ-XANES) and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (μ-XRF) were employed. Additionally, μ-Raman and mid-FTIR analyses were carried out to completely characterize the samples. On both paint microsamples, the local presence of reduced Cr was demonstrated by means of μ-XANES point measurements. The presence of Cr(III) was revealed in specific areas, in some cases correlated to the presence of Ba(sulfate) and/or to that of aluminum silicate compounds.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000287176900012 Publication Date 2011-02-14
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0003-2700; 5206-882x ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 6.32 Times cited 84 Open Access
Notes ; This research was funded by grants from ESRF (experiment EC-504) and by HASYLAB (experiments 11-20080130 EC and 11-20070157 EC) and was supported by the Interuniversity Attraction Poles Programme-Belgian Science Policy (IUAP VI/16). The text also presents results of GOA “XANES meets ELNES” (Research Fund University of Antwerp, Belgium) and from FWO (Brussels, Belgium) project nos. G.0103.04, G.0689.06, and G.0704.08. The staff of the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, is acknowledged for their agreeable cooperation and for the authorization to publish the images of the paintings in this article. L.M. was financially supported by the Erasmus Placement in the framework of Lifelong Learning Programme (A.Y. 2009-2010). The EU Community's FP7 Research Infrastructures program under the CHARISMA Project (Grant Agreement 228330) is also acknowledged. ; Approved Most recent IF: 6.32; 2011 IF: 5.856
Call Number (up) UA @ admin @ c:irua:88795 Serial 5571
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Author Radepont, M.; de Nolf, W.; Janssens, K.; van der Snickt, G.; Coquinot, Y.; Klaassen, L.; Cotte, M.
Title The use of microscopic X-ray diffraction for the study of HgS and its degradation products corderoite (\alpha-Hg3S2Cl2), kenhsuite (\gamma-Hg3S2Cl2) and calomel (Hg2Cl2) in historical paintings Type A1 Journal article
Year 2011 Publication Journal of analytical atomic spectrometry Abbreviated Journal J Anal Atom Spectrom
Volume 26 Issue 5 Pages 959-968
Keywords A1 Journal article; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)
Abstract Since antiquity, the red pigment mercury sulfide (α-HgS), called cinnabar in its natural form or vermilion red when synthetic, was very often used in frescoes and paintings, even if it was known to suffer occasionally from degradation. The paint hereby acquires a black or silver-grey aspect. The chemical characterization of these alteration products is rather challenging mainly because of the micrometric size and heterogeneity of the surface layers that develop and that are responsible for the color change. Methods such as electron microscopy, synchrotron-based microscopic X-ray fluorescence, microscopic X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy, Raman microscopy and secondary ion microscopy have been previously employed to identify the (Hg- and S-) compounds present and to study their co-localization. Next to these, also microscopic X-ray diffraction (XRD) (either by making use of laboratory X-ray sources or when used at a synchrotron facility) allows the identification of the crystal phases that are present in degraded HgS paint layers. In this paper we employ these various forms of micro-XRD to analyze degraded red paint in different paintings and compare the results with other X-ray based methods. Whereas the elemental analyses of the degradation products revealed, next to mercury and sulfur, the presence of chlorine, X-ray diffraction allowed the identification, next to α-HgS, of the Hg and S-containing compound calomel (Hg2Cl2) but also of the Hg, S and Cl-containing minerals corderoite (α-Hg3S2Cl2) and kenhsuite (γ-Hg3S2Cl2). These observations are consistent with X-ray absorption spectroscopy measurements performed at the S- and Cl-edges.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000289731900011 Publication Date 2011-03-03
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0267-9477 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 3.379 Times cited 40 Open Access
Notes ; The authors gratefully acknowledge GOA programme “XANES meets EELS'' (University of Antwerp Research Council), the IUAP VI/P16 programme ”Nacho'' (BELSPO, Brussels, Belgium) and FWO (Brussels, Belgium) projects no. G.0689.06, G.0704.08 and G017909N for financial support, the ESRF for granting beamtime under proposals no. EC442 and EC720, and Gema Martinez-Criado for practical help on ID18F. The KMSKA staff is also gratefully acknowledged for their help and interest. Javier Chillida is thanked for providing us with the Pedralbes samples. The authors are also indebted to the CHARISMA project (grant agreement 228330) for financial support. ; Approved Most recent IF: 3.379; 2011 IF: 3.220
Call Number (up) UA @ admin @ c:irua:89927 Serial 5896
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Author Cagno, S.; Nuyts, G.; Bugani, S.; De Vis, K.; Schalm, O.; Caen, J.; Helfen, L.; Cotte, M.; Reischig, P.; Janssens, K.
Title Evaluation of manganese-bodies removal in historical stained glass windows via SR-\mu-XANES/XRF and SR-\mu-CT Type A1 Journal article
Year 2011 Publication Journal of analytical atomic spectrometry Abbreviated Journal J Anal Atom Spectrom
Volume 26 Issue 12 Pages 2442-2451
Keywords A1 Journal article; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)
Abstract The speed and effectiveness of a conservation treatment used for stained glass windows have been investigated. Dark-coloured Mn-rich stains can be found in the alteration layer of ancient glass artefacts and cause the surface to turn brown/black: this phenomenon is known as Mn-browning or Mn-staining. While in glass manganese is present in the +II or +III oxidation states, in the Mn-rich bodies, manganese is in a higher oxidation state (+IV). In restoration practice, mildly reducing solutions are employed to eliminate the dark colour and restore the clear appearance of the glass. In this paper the effectiveness and side effects of the use of hydroxylamine hydrochloride for this purpose are assessed. Archaeological fragments of stained glass windows, dated to the 14th century and originating from Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge (UK), were examined by means of synchrotron radiation (SR) based microscopic X-ray Absorption Near-Edge Spectroscopy (μ-XANES) and microscopic X-Ray Fluorescence (μ-XRF) and with high resolution computed absorption tomography (μ-CT) before, during and after the treatment. The monitoring of the glass fragments during the treatment allows us to better understand the manner in which the process unfolds and its kinetics. The results obtained reveal that the hydroxylamine hydrochloride treatment is effective, but also that it has a number of unwanted side effects. These findings are useful for optimizing the time and other modalities of the Mn-reducing treatment as well as minimizing its unwanted results.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000297030400009 Publication Date 2011-10-11
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0267-9477 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 3.379 Times cited 17 Open Access
Notes ; This research was supported by the Interuniversity Attraction Poles Programme-Belgian Science Policy (IUAP VI/16). The text also presents results of GOA “XANES meets ELNES” (Research Fund University of Antwerp, Belgium) and from FWO (Brussels, Belgium) projects no. G.0704.08 and G.01769.09. Special thanks to Ms Leonie Seliger, head of the stained-glass conservation studio (The Cathedral Studios-The Chapter of Canterbury Cathedral) for the supply of the archaeological samples. The authors gratefully acknowledge ESRF for granting beamtime (proposal EC-602). ; Approved Most recent IF: 3.379; 2011 IF: 3.220
Call Number (up) UA @ admin @ c:irua:93848 Serial 5613
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Author Monico, L.; Janssens, K.; Miliani, C.; Brunetti, B.G.; Vagnini, M.; Vanmeert, F.; Falkenberg, G.; Abakumov, A.; Lu, Y.; Tian, H.; Verbeeck, J.; Radepont, M.; Cotte, M.; Hendriks, E.; Geldof, M.; van der Loeff, L.; Salvant, J.; Menu, M.;
Title Degradation process of lead chromate in paintings by Vincent van Gogh studied by means of spectromicroscopic methods : 3 : synthesis, characterization, and detection of different crystal forms of the chrome yellow pigment Type A1 Journal article
Year 2013 Publication Analytical chemistry Abbreviated Journal Anal Chem
Volume 85 Issue 2 Pages 860-867
Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)
Abstract The painter, Vincent van Gogh, and some of his contemporaries frequently made use of the pigment chrome yellow that is known to show a tendency toward darkening. This pigment may correspond to various chemical compounds such as PbCrO4 and PbCr1-xSxO4, that may each be present in various crystallographic forms with different tendencies toward degradation. Investigations by X-ray diffraction (XRD), mid-Fourier Transform infrared (FTIR), and Raman instruments (benchtop and portable) and synchrotron radiation-based micro-XRD and X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy performed on oil-paint models, prepared with in-house synthesized PbCrO4 and PbCr1-xSxO4, permitted us to characterize the spectroscopic features of the various forms. On the basis of these results, an extended study has been carried out on historic paint tubes and on embedded paint microsamples taken from yellow-orange/pale yellow areas of 12 Van Gogh paintings, demonstrating that Van Gogh effectively made use of different chrome yellow types. This conclusion was also confirmed by in situ mid-FTIR investigations on Van Goghs Portrait of Gauguin (Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam).
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Washington, D.C. Editor
Language Wos 000313668400031 Publication Date 2012-10-10
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0003-2700;1520-6882; ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 6.32 Times cited 79 Open Access
Notes Goa; Fwo Approved Most recent IF: 6.32; 2013 IF: 5.825
Call Number (up) UA @ lucian @ c:irua:108707UA @ admin @ c:irua:108707 Serial 631
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Author da Pieve, F.; Hogan, C.; Lamoen, D.; Verbeeck, J.; Vanmeert, F.; Radepont, M.; Cotte, M.; Janssens, K.; Gonze, X.; Van Tendeloo, G.
Title Casting light on the darkening of colors in historical paintings Type A1 Journal article
Year 2013 Publication Physical review letters Abbreviated Journal Phys Rev Lett
Volume 111 Issue 20 Pages 208302-208305
Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)
Abstract The degradation of colors in historical paintings affects our cultural heritage in both museums and archeological sites. Despite intensive experimental studies, the origin of darkening of one of the most ancient pigments known to humankind, vermilion (α-HgS), remains unexplained. Here, by combining many-body theoretical spectroscopy and high-resolution microscopic x-ray diffraction, we clarify the composition of the damaged paint work and demonstrate possible physicochemical processes, induced by illumination and exposure to humidity and air, that cause photoactivation of the original pigment and the degradation of the secondary minerals. The results suggest a new path for the darkening process which was never considered by previous studies and prompt a critical examination of their findings.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication New York, N.Y. Editor
Language Wos 000327244500003 Publication Date 2013-11-15
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0031-9007;1079-7114; ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 8.462 Times cited 30 Open Access
Notes Vortex; ERC FP7; COUNTATOMS; ECASJO_; Approved Most recent IF: 8.462; 2013 IF: 7.728
Call Number (up) UA @ lucian @ c:irua:111396UA @ admin @ c:irua:111396 Serial 287
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Author Monico, L.; van der Snickt, G.; Janssens, K.; de Nolf, W.; Miliani, C.; Verbeeck, J.; Tian, H.; Tan, H.; Dik, J.; Radepont, M.; Cotte, M.
Title Degradation process of lead chromate in paintings by Vincent van Gogh studied by means of synchrotron X-ray spectromicroscopy and related methods : 1 : artificially aged model samples Type A1 Journal article
Year 2011 Publication Analytical chemistry Abbreviated Journal Anal Chem
Volume 83 Issue 4 Pages 1214-1223
Keywords A1 Journal article; Electron microscopy for materials research (EMAT); AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation)
Abstract On several paintings by artists of the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th Century a darkening of the original yellow areas, painted with the chrome yellow pigment (PbCrO4, PbCrO4·xPbSO4, or PbCrO4·xPbO) is observed. The most famous of these are the various Sunflowers paintings Vincent van Gogh made during his career. In the first part of this work, we attempt to elucidate the degradation process of chrome yellow by studying artificially aged model samples. In view of the very thin (1−3 μm) alteration layers that are formed, high lateral resolution spectroscopic methods such as microscopic X-ray absorption near edge (μ-XANES), X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (μ-XRF), and electron energy loss spectrometry (EELS) were employed. Some of these use synchrotron radiation (SR). Additionally, microscopic SR X-ray diffraction (SR μ-XRD), μ-Raman, and mid-FTIR spectroscopy were employed to completely characterize the samples. The formation of Cr(III) compounds at the surface of the chrome yellow paint layers is particularly observed in one aged model sample taken from a historic paint tube (ca. 1914). About two-thirds of the chromium that is present at the surface has reduced from the hexavalent to the trivalent state. The EELS and μ-XANES spectra are consistent with the presence of Cr2O3·2H2O (viridian). Moreover, as demonstrated by μ-XANES, the presence of another Cr(III) compound, such as either Cr2(SO4)3·H2O or (CH3CO2)7Cr3(OH)2 [chromium(III) acetate hydroxide], is likely.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Washington, D.C. Editor
Language Wos 000287176900011 Publication Date 2011-02-14
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN 0003-2700;1520-6882; ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 6.32 Times cited 113 Open Access
Notes Iuap; Fwo Approved Most recent IF: 6.32; 2011 IF: 5.856
Call Number (up) UA @ lucian @ c:irua:88794UA @ admin @ c:irua:88794 Serial 632
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