Necessity and Use of a Multilayer Test Object Based on an Anonymous 19th Century Copy of a Painting by Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky (1817–1900)

Abstract

The emergence of new research methods in the field of heritage science always raises a large number of questions related to their applicability, reproducibility of results on similar objects, complementarity with other methods, and development of new research methods. To solve such problems, it is necessary to have a test object with the required structure. A multilayer test object based on a fragment of a copy of a 19th century painting by I.K. Aivazovsky was created and described. Analytical studies of the colourful layers were carried out on a Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometer with an attenuated total reflectance (ATR) attachment in single-reflection mode with a diamond crystal. As part of the use of one research method, differences between painting layers of the 19th and 20th centuries were revealed. Results are presented in the IR graphs. The aim of the work was to identify the characteristics of the pictorial layers inherent in the copy of the painting by I.K. Aivazovsky. This will improve the methodology of technological expertise of the I.K. Aivazovsky’s artworks.