Unveiling the paint stratigraphy and technique of Roman African polychrome statues

Journal article (2022)

Authors

Elisabetta Neri Université de Liège
M.W.E.M. Alfeld Sorbonne Université, Paris, Team Matthias Alfeld - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
Nesrine Nasr Institut National du Patrimoine, Tunis
Laurence de Viguerie Sorbonne Université, Paris
Philippe Walter Sorbonne Université, Paris
Research Group
Team Matthias Alfeld (Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2022 Elisabetta Neri, M.W.E.M. Alfeld, Nesrine Nasr, Laurence de Viguerie, Philippe Walter
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-022-01586-3
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Published Date

2022

Language

English

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Faculty

Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering

Department

Materials Science and Engineering

Research Group

Team Matthias Alfeld

Abstract

If ancient written sources and the visual analysis of polychromies have recently revealed the complexity of the technique of painting on statues and their frequent restoration, the non-invasive punctual chemical analyses carried out do not allow one to access the chemical composition of the different paint layers. This paper presents the analysis of three statues from Roman Africa discussing the results obtained from this understudied territory and chronology. By combining visual observation (VIS, UVL), video microscopy and MA-XRF imaging, we propose here a non-invasive protocol to determine the chemical composition of the different paint layers. This allows one to unveil the complexity of the ‘know-how’ of a sculpture painter and sheds light on the evolution of the original appearance of the statues.

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