Speaker
Description
For over 20 years, the Archaeometry and Applied Sciences to Cultural Heritage Group at the Institute of Physics (University of São Paulo - USP), has conducted scientific investigations on artworks and cultural heritage objects. This research is a collaborative effort with various USP museums (MAC, MAE, MP, IEB) and state institutions in São Paulo, such as Pinacoteca, MASP, Museu Portinari, etc.
The developed research has focused on the instrumentation developments and systematically study of cultural heritage objects. Particularly the research also focusses in significant paintings by renowned Brazilian artists, including Anita Malfatti (1889-1964), Di Cavalcanti (1897-1976), Oscar Pereira (1867-1939), Pedro Américo (1843-1905), Almeida Júnior (1850-1899), Candido Portinari (1903-1962), etc. More recently, three large-scale artworks from the Pinacoteca collection were analyzed: "América" (Stephan Kessler, 1650-1700), "África" (Stephan Kessler, 1650-1700), and "A Hora do Prazer" (Virgílio Maurício, 1914). All the investigations performed have provided a deeper understanding of the artists ́ materials, creative processes, and the artworks ́ conservation status. Pigments analysis allows the determination of the artist's palette, providing support to restorers in the restoration process through chromatic combinations.
The analyses and studies rely on the “in situ” application of portable and non-invasive analytical instruments, enabling data collection directly in the museum environment without sample removal. Various analytical techniques that explore the interaction of radiation (Infrared, V, Ultraviolet, and X-rays) with matter are utilized. Spectroscopic and imaging methods, including Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (ED-XRF), Raman, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and multi-band imaging, complement each other. This integrated methodology characterizes the chemical composition of pigments, identifies previous interventions, detects chromatic alterations, and visualizes underlying layers. Furthermore, imaging tools like UV-visible fluorescence help a better understanding the artist ́s original and the restoration pigments used. This interdisciplinary approach establishes rigorous methodological parameters for preserving artistic heritage.
Acknowledge
Thanks to all the students and collaborators of the LACAPC (Laboratório de Arqueometria e Ciências Aplicadas ao Patrimônio Cultural). Pinacoteca, especially the general director Jochen Völz, the curator of the collection Yuri Quevedo, the conservation and restoration coordinator Camilla Vitti, and the painting restorers Alexandre Xavier and Mariana Agostinho for the partnerships. Also thanks all the students and collaborators of the LACAPC group https://sites.google.com/usp.br/lacapc/equipe/quem-somos for all the works performed together. Thanks also to financial support received from INCT/FNA Proc. No. 464898/2014-5, FAPESP Proc. No. 2017/07366-1 and 2022/11586-5 and CNPq Proc. No. 126350/2023-0
