As the demand for analysing and digitizing artifacts grows in art conservation and archaeology, new non-destructive techniques have become crucial. BlueScientific, a premium distributor of advanced analytical microscopy systems, is at the forefront – empowering UK researchers and institutions with cutting-edge solutions including micro-XRF, micro-CT (XRM) and Raman Spectroscopy solutions.
Whether investigating pigment composition in historic paintings or analysing microstructures in ancient artefacts, tools like the Bruker SKYSCAN 1273 and the next-generation X4 POSEIDON XRM alongside the ELIO and M6 JETSTREAM micro-XRF systems, enable in-depth analysis whilst preserving the integrity of valuable samples.
Prof. Lisa-Marie Shillito of Durham University exemplifies how advanced non-destructive imaging is transforming heritage science. Prof. Shillito’s team, part of NEMCAS, works across archaeological artefacts, soils, and organic materials — traditionally relying on extensive sample preparation and 2D thin-section microscopy to study structure and morphology with optical and electron microscopy techniques.
With the Bruker SKYSCAN 1273, and soon to be installed X4 POSEIDON, their work now preserves valuable samples while delivering richer, non-invasive analyses. As Prof. Shillito explains, “X-ray micro-CT is a game changer – enabling us to analyse the same materials with minimal preparation, in 3D, providing much more detailed insights.” The SKYSCAN 1273 is especially well-suited to heritage applications, offering a large, versatile chamber for diverse sample types coupled with a powerful 130kV X-ray source but in a benchtop format. Through tools like these, NEMCAS is helping to redefine how we explore and protect the material traces of the past.
Another notable example of non-destructive analysis uncovering hidden histories is the decades-long study of Gauguin’s Nevermore, led in part by Dr Silvia Amato and Prof. Aviva Burnstock at The Courtauld Institute of Art (2024). An initial 1983 investigation (Hale, 1983), followed by The Courtauld’s 2014 portable X-ray work, revealed an earlier composition beneath the surface. In 2015, scanning micro-XRF with a Bruker M6 JETSTREAM (supplied by BlueScientific) improved sensitivity for the same dwell time, with elemental mapping exposing previously unseen details. A 2021 re-examination using an upgraded dual-detector M6 JETSTREAM offered unprecedented clarity, suggesting Gauguin reused the canvas during a fabric shortage in Tahiti between 1897–1900.
BlueScientific continues to strengthen its position as a trusted distributor to support those who seek to unlock the past through the lens of tomorrow’s imaging
This article recently featured in infocus magazine: https://www.rms.org.uk/library/infocus-magazine/infocus-online.html
References:
- Amato, S. R., & Burnstock, A. (2024). Scanning X-ray Fluorescence for the Re-examination of the Composition Underneath Paul Gauguin’s Nevermore in the Courtauld Gallery. Studies in Conservation, 70(2), 106–119. https://doi.org/10.1080/00393630.2024.2350276
- Hale, C. 1983. A Study of Paul Gauguin’s Correspondence Relating to His Painting Materials and Techniques, with Specific Reference to His Works in the Courtauld Collection. Unpublished project, The Courtauld Institute of Art.