Multi-analytical approach for the study of the painting palette of historic theatre sceneries

Abstract

Illusionist painted scenery sets illustrated all kinds of theatrical events from traditional ‘Italian stage’ history. They are a unique heritage of both theatre and painting techniques. Some of those large-scale but ephemeral objects have luckily been preserved in relatively few collections, today not yet fully examined. The aim of the presented study was to widen the scope of information on the subject of the pigment palette employed in this kind of paintings. In order to achieve it, microsamples taken from set items from seven European collections (two Czech, Swedish, Belgian, German, Norwegian and Polish) from the 18th to the 20th century were subject to examination. A multi-technique approach was applied in a successive, selective and complementary way. After initial observation, in the first step elemental (X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy) and molecular (attenuated total Reflectance Fourier -transform infrared spectroscopy) techniques were applied. Further on, microscopic images of the cross-sections of paint layers were analysed in visible light, UV–induced fluorescence and in near infrared false colour technique (NIRFC). That was followed by Scanning Electronic microscopy coupled with Energy Dispersive X–ray analysis of chosen samples. Whenever necessary, the examination was complemented by microchemical tests. The research enabled the observation of changes introduced with the passage of time, such as the inclusion of new pigments. The result of the research was the identification of the complete colour spectrum with over 40 components, providing an overview of the palette utilized in theatre scenery painting from the second half of the18th century to the 1920s.