Four panels, each with a small paint cross-section: X-rays pass through and lead shows white; infrared passes through paint to carbon underdrawing; X-ray fluorescence (XRF) identifies elements such as lead and mercury without a sample; a cross-section sample shows the order of layers.

Concept · Aging and Analysis

Looking Beneath the Surface

Conservators identify materials with methods that see through paint or read its chemical elements, most of them without taking a sample.

X-rays show changes the painter covered over, where heavy paint such as lead white is involved. Infrared can reveal a carbon drawing under the paint. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) names the elements at a spot, and the pigment is worked out from them.

  • Scanning XRF across a whole painting can map hidden earlier versions.
  • When a sample is needed, it is smaller than a pinhead and comes from an already damaged spot, as a last resort.

Image: Made for this site · Original work

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