Services

Identification of pigments used in a painting or on an object can provide significant insight for the client into the potential authenticity of a painting or object. Most historical pigments have known dates of use, so once a pigment is identified that information can be compared with what is known about the painting or object.

For the conservator, identification of pigments provides information about the artist, era, history and style of an object or painting, and allows accurate pigment selection for restoration and inpainting. Some pigments change chemically, so accurate pigment identification is important to help return a painting to its original color after restoration.

Pigment Analysis

Analysis and identification of the material used as binder in a painting is of critical importance to conservators in the process of restoring a painting. Identification of the medium or coating layers allows the selection of appropriate solvents to remove unwanted coatings or previous restoration treatments. This helps reduce the trial and error of finding a workable cleaning approach, and minimizes exposure of a painting or object to unnecessary cleaning agents.

With more modern works that include synthetic media, the analysis can be an aid in determining when the painting was made.

Media Analysis

The techniques used for pigment and media analysis are also very powerful tools for general materials identification of objects composed of polymers, adhesives, metals, and ceramics. Correct identification of an object’s composition aids in correct preservation practices, storage and display. Historic objects and modern art objects can incorporate a wide variety of synthetic materials which instrumental analysis can help unravel.

Materials Analysis

FTIR or Raman spectral data can sometimes be confusing to interpret and searching libraries alone can be misleading. CAMA offers interpretation services which include spectral interpretation by a spectroscopist and library searching against libraries of art materials.

In some cases, CAMA can offer advice on sample preparation and data collection for additional testing, as well as other types of testing that can provide confirmatory identification.

Spectral Interpretation

Center for Art Materials Analysis, Inc.

linseed oil, walnut oil, gums, resins, alkyds, egg white, egg yolk, honey, and other materials have been used as binders for painting

modern chemical analysis methods reveal elemental and molecular information about paintings, objects, scultpures

modern objects can include a wide variety of synthetic materials such as polymers, adhesives, metals and ceramics that need identification with modern instrumental analysis

media or medium analysis gives accurate identification for conservation efforts to avoid trial and error applications of cleaning solvents to paintings and objeects

FTIR and raman spectroscopy give molecular information about art materials in conservation studies, art authentication, and analysis of historic objects.

Center for Art
Materials Analysis, Inc.

217 S Wilmette Ave

Westmont, IL 60559

630-430-3053

info@camaonline.net

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