Portable chemical imaging tool reveals hidden alterations to Egyptian paintings
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Portable chemical imaging technology can reveal buried details in ancient Egyptian artwork, according to a study published in PLOS ONE on July 12.
Given that Egyptian paintings are often fragile and easily damaged during transportation— especially those on paper or papyrus— this "in-situ" approach offers a valuable tool to help preserve them.
Portable chemical imaging
It's commonly believed that highly formalized techniques were used to produce the masterful paintings of ancient Egypt. However, most studies on these works of art and their production method are conducted in laboratories or museums.
In this latest study, Philippe Martinez of Sorbonne University, France, and colleagues chemically imaged artworks while still hanging in their original contexts, making it possible to examine the layers and composition of paint. This approach also enabled the identification of any changes to old paintings.
Two Ramesside Period paintings discovered in tomb chapels at the Theban Necropolis near the River Nile were thoroughly examined. The Ramesside period, which lasted about 225 years, began with King Rameses of the Nineteenth Dynasty and ended with King Rameses of the Twentieth Dynasty.
The researchers were able to spot changes made to a figure's arm's position in the first picture, though the cause of this relatively insignificant change is unknown.
Analysis of the second painting revealed various alterations to the crown and other royal ornaments displayed on a portrait of Ramesses II; these alterations are most likely related to a shift in the symbolic significance of the goods over time.
"These discoveries clearly call for a systematized and closer inspection of paintings in Egypt using physicochemical characterization," said the authors in a press statement.
There are still many questions about the cause and timing of the observed changes, some of which may be answered by further research.
Although it is believed that such painting adjustments are rare for this type of art, the researchers argue that these findings warrant further examination.
Significantly, this study underscores the viability of using portable chemical imaging technologies for in-person analysis of historical paintings.
Analyzing ancient art
Scientists use various imaging techniques to analyze ancient Egyptian paintings. These include infrared imaging, X-ray fluorescence, visible-induced infrared luminescence (VIL), multispectral imaging, and computerized tomography (CT).
For instance, VIL can identify specific pigments, such as Egyptian blue. Egyptian blue is a blue pigment made from a mixture of copper, sand, and soda ash.
When visible light is shone on Egyptian blue, it emits infrared radiation. This emission can be detected by cameras, which makes it possible to see the pigment that would not be visible to the naked eye.
The complete study was published in PLoS ONE on July 12 and can be found here.
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