Centre d'Analyses et de Recherche en Art et ArchéologiePainting analysis (on canvas, panel, paper, etc …) comes through the study of the pigments used, the media, the preparation layers, the binders or the varnishes. Spectroscopic analyzes (eg. FTIR, Raman, XRF, … ) help mainly to characterize these materials in order to determine the date of completion, the state of conservation or possible restoration…
The analysis of metal sculptures correspond to an understanding of the technology used by the artist. To do this, one can determine the manufacturing process (lost wax casting, sand casting, molding …) and the alloy used. The manufacturing process is determined by optical observations or through imaging (X-rays, CT- Scan… ).The characterization of the alloy…
The analysis of artworks made of ceramics or glass consist first in the study of the matrix: the distribution of the grains in a porcelain, in a clay preparation, etc. Elemental analyzes (e.g ICP-MS, ICP-AES, EDS, XRF, …) are mainly used to characterize the major elements (silica, fluxes, modifiers), minors (e.g. coloring oxides) and trace…
The study of historical monuments concerns the study of some decorative art objects (tapestries, sculptures, paintings, etc.) as well the study of the architectural structure (murals, wall sculptures, railings, exterior coatings, etc.). The broad range of techniques available in conservation science can be applied to the study of these historical monuments in a goal of…
Archaeological objects concern all material remains that relate to Man from Prehistoric to all Historical periods and that sometimes is necessary to unearth (tools, bones, pottery, weapons, coins, jewellery , clothing, prints, traces, paintings, buildings, infrastructure, etc.).. The diversity of the materials encountered in archaeology, and the vast historical period concerned make the study of…
Photographs are mixed materials and therefore complex. They combine organic support (paper, cloth, …) or inorganic (metal, glass, …), extremely diverse printing and fixing processes or stabilizing and retouching techniques. Our role at CARAA is to determine the most appropriate physico-chemical tools that will help identifying and differentiating scientifically these different manufacturing processes. The photographic…