Use of visible and infrared reflectance and luminescence imaging spectroscopy to study illuminated manuscripts: pigment identification and visualization of underdrawings

Paola Ricciardi; John K. Delaney; Lisha Glinsman; Mathieu Thoury; Michelle Facini; E. René de la Rie

doi:10.1117/12.827415

1 July 2009 Use of visible and infrared reflectance and luminescence imaging spectroscopy to study illuminated manuscripts: pigment identification and visualization of underdrawings

Paola Ricciardi, John K. Delaney, Lisha Glinsman, Mathieu Thoury, Michelle Facini, E. René de la Rie

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 7391, O3A: Optics for Arts, Architecture, and Archaeology II; 739106 (2009) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.827415
Event: SPIE Europe Optical Metrology, 2009, Munich, Germany

Abstract

Site specific, in situ techniques such as X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and Raman spectroscopy are commonly used to identify pigments on illuminated manuscripts. With both techniques, spectra are usually acquired on visually identified sites thought to be representative of the pigments and mixtures used for the illumination. Such visual inspection may not always ensure an adequate representation of the pigment diversity. Here we report on the application of multispectral (MSI) visible/infrared reflectance and luminescence imaging spectroscopy, along with fiber optics reflectance spectroscopy (FORS) to help determine and map the primary pigments in a late 14th century miniature on vellum, attributed to Niccolo da Bologna and representing the birth of John the Baptist. XRF analyses of visually selected sites found elements consistent with azurite, ultramarine, vermillion, lead white, "mosaic gold" and yellow earth pigments. Visible/infrared FORS analyses confirmed these assignments and showed evidence for the use of organic dyes. The spectral analysis of the MSI-reflectance images gave distribution maps for these pigments (i.e., regions of azurite, ultramarine, vermillion) along with some indication of pigment layering not identified visually. The luminescence image gave a probable map of the organic dye(s). Images acquired in the near- and shortwave-infrared (NIR and SWIR, 750 to 2400 nm) revealed preparatory sketches and illumination techniques. These results show, like those of a prior study carried out on another 14th century Italian miniature, that the combination of low light multi-spectral imaging spectroscopy with FORS provides improved in situ mapping and identification of pigments on illuminated manuscripts.

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Paola Ricciardi, John K. Delaney, Lisha Glinsman, Mathieu Thoury, Michelle Facini, and E. René de la Rie "Use of visible and infrared reflectance and luminescence imaging spectroscopy to study illuminated manuscripts: pigment identification and visualization of underdrawings", Proc. SPIE 7391, O3A: Optics for Arts, Architecture, and Archaeology II, 739106 (1 July 2009); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.827415

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