Technical Non-Invasive Study of an 18th Century Novo-Hispanic Panel Painting

Abstract

Purísima Concepción, a large-format and unusual panel painting attributed to the 18th century, based on style and the common aspect of the visual tradition of the Virgin Mary found in the Viceroyalty of New Spain, is sheltered at the Museo Ex-convento San Agustín Acolman-INAH, México, an institution opened in late 1920, and one of the oldest museums in México. In this work, we present the material characterization of the surface layer of the painting by means of a non-invasive methodology, resulting from the combination of imaging and spectroscopic techniques. Analysis of hyperspectral images employing methods such as spectral angle mapper and principal component analysis allowed us to describe spatial distribution of the pigments and manufacturing methods, while XRF and FORS allowed us to record the complex and diverse color palette employed to achieve effects such as brightness, hue, saturation, and even the covering power of this painting.