From surface to subsurface: Integrating imaging techniques and laser profilometry in artworks study

Authors

  • Giulia Iorio INFN, Roma Tre Department, Rome, Italy
  • Chiara Merucci Gallerie Nazionali Barberini Corsini, via delle Quattro Fontane 13, 00184, Rome, Italy
  • Valerio Graziani INFN, Roma Tre Department, Surface Analysis Laboratory Roma Tre - LASR3, Distretto Tecnologico dei Beni Culturali della Regione Lazio – Centro di Eccellenza, Rome, Italy
  • Andrea Fabbri INFN, Roma Tre Department, Surface Analysis Laboratory Roma Tre - LASR3, Rome, Italy
  • Paolo Branchini INFN, Roma Tre Department, Surface Analysis Laboratory Roma Tre - LASR3, Rome, Italy
  • Luca Tortora INFN, Roma Tre Department, Surface Analysis Laboratory Roma Tre - LASR3, Department of Science, Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21014/actaimeko.v15i3.2107

Keywords:

profilometry, infrared reflectography, surface analysis, artworks, cultural heritage, conservation science, principal component analysis, multivariate analysis

Abstract

This study aims to present the results obtained from the profilometric and reflectographic analyses of the painting on panel L’Ebbrezza di Noè, attributed to Antonio Bazzi (known as Il Sodoma), preserved at the Galleria Nazionale di Arte Antica in Palazzo Barberini (Rome, Italy). Utilizing an advanced integrated scanning system, we employed a high-resolution laser profilometer with a 405 nm laser line, a lateral resolution of 12.5 µm and a height resolution of 1.6 µm, along with a SWIR uncooled camera equipped with an InGaAs detector with a resolution of 320 × 256 pixels, operating within a spectral range from 900 to 1700 nm, to scan and analyze the artwork. By selecting significant details, we highlighted the potential of a multi-instrument approach in accurately interpreting the complex information revealed through diagnostic imaging of artworks. Specifically, profilometric images were compared with infrared and false-color images to determine whether hidden features beneath the paint layers can be detected through surface topography.

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Published

2026-09-12

Issue

Vol. 15 No. 3 (2026)

Section

Research Papers

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Giulia Iorio, Chiara Merucci, Valerio Graziani, Andrea Fabbri, Paolo Branchini, Luca Tortora

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