Special Exhibitions
Picasso: The Artist's Studio
|
|
Special Exhibitions |
|
Picasso: The Artist's Studio |
|
|
Sampling/Cross Sections Small areas or "samples," approximately the size of the tip of a needle, may be physically removed from a paint surface for examination under a microscope. Conservators can often identify specific pigments and other elements of the paint and ground layers by studying the color, size, shape, and optical properties of a sampled area. Chemical tests may also be performed to assist with the identification of materials. Samples may also be studied through cross-section views. This technique is like slicing into a layer cake. It involves embedding the sample in synthetic resin, then precisely cutting and polishing it perpendicular to the surface of the painting. Cross-sections are especially useful for studying the layering sequence of varnish, paint, and preparatory ground. Cross-section analysis can also provide information about the technique and history of a painting. For example, since varnish is usually applied as a final protective coating over the finished paint surface, the discovery of a second layer of varnish between paint layers may indicate that the painting was later reworked. Because sampling involves permanently removing part of the paint surface, it is used sparingly.
Page 5 of 6 | On the next page: Scanning Electron Microscopy |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
