A Combined Non-Destructive and Micro-Destructive Approach to Solving the Forensic Problems in the Field of Cultural Heritage: Two Case Studies

Mauro F. La Russa,Salvatore Schiavone,Michela Ricca,Antonio Donato,Maria F. Alberghina,Luciana Randazzo,Maria P. Albanese

doi:10.3390/app11156951

Mauro F. La Russa, Salvatore Schiavone + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/app11156951

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Journal: Applied Sciences	Publication Date: Jul 28, 2021
Citations: 7	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of Calabria

Abstract

The present paper discusses the importance of non-destructive and micro-destructive technology in forensic investigations in the field of cultural heritage. Recent technological developments and the wide availability of modern analytical instrumentation are creating new possibilities for performing scientific measurements and acquiring data directly on-site—thereby limiting, where possible, sampling activity—as well as learning about the technologies and materials that were employed in the past to create cultural assets. Information on periods, chemical composition, manufacturing techniques, etc., can be gathered more easily. Overall, the benefits of on-site forensic investigations are multiple, including the potential to increase substantially the speed and efficacy of the criminal justice system. However, such benefits are only realized when data quality is guaranteed and findings can be used as forensic evidence in court. The present paper shows data from the non-destructive and micro-destructive analysis of different artworks and objects provided by the Cosenza Carabinieri Unit for the Protection of Cultural Heritage and Anti-Counterfeiting (Calabria, Italy). In particular, two oil paintings on canvas depicting cherubs (Italian: putti), recovered as fragments of larger religious artworks, and two bronze belt and helmet fragments were investigated. In the first case, the research aimed to define the original pictorial layer, identify any reconstruction pictorial areas or pictorial retouching, assess the state of conservation, reconstruct the previous conservation treatments, and provide indications about the chronology of the artworks. In the second case, analysis was performed both to define the bronze chemical composition and the origin of the soil (earth) found within the objects during their recovery. For these purposes, the analytical approach involved the use of non-destructive and micro-destructive analysis as follows: infrared reflectography (IRR), ultraviolet-induced visible fluorescence (UV), X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF), digital optical microscopy (DOM), scanning electron microscopy equipped with EDX microanalysis (SEM-EDX), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The results made it possible to collect valuable diagnostic information and answer questions posed by the institutions for the resolution of various doubts about forensic science and cases concerning the seizure, recovery, or return of archaeological or historical-artistic objects of cultural interest.

Highlights

The scientific approach plays an important role in forensic science and in investigations connected to cultural heritage objects
The following were observed in Painting 1: (a) the original brown pictorial layer was compromised of severe thinning; (b) the original canvas and a trace of reddish ground layer in correspondence with a color lacuna; (c) a pink-reddish pictorial layer along the craquelure fractures with minimal retouching; and (d) a ultraviolet fluorescence (UVF) image confirmed contours of thin retouchings and the Spectrometry (EDS) System from Oxford Instruments
The following were observed in Painting 1: (a) the original brown pictorial layer was compromised of severe thinning; (b) the original canvas and a trace of reddish ground layer in correspondence with a color lacuna; (c) a pink-reddish pictorial layer along the craquelure fractures with minimal retouching; and (d) a UVF image confirmed contours of thin retouchings and the presence of recent protective and minimal residues of an older varnish (Figure 3A–D)

Summary

Introduction

The scientific approach plays an important role in forensic science and in investigations connected to cultural heritage objects. In this field, the main problem is the difficulty in analyzing samples and in some cases the unfeasibility of subjecting these specimens to a standard analytical technique. The choice of the proper analytical approach is crucial, because artworks are unique and unrepeatable. The best procedure is to adopt a non-destructive or micro-destructive integrated approach. This is useful when the investigated artwork or object is constituted of different materials, e.g., pigments, stone, glass, ceramics, soils, metal, etc. Non-destructive and minimally invasive methods are based largely on physical principles and, as a function of their specific application, can provide data on the origin and manufacture of an artwork, as well as on the raw materials used [4,5,6,7,8]

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