Complementary infrared imaging methods for the structural and technical analysis of a panel painting: Adoration of the Magi by Marco Cardisco

Abstract

Today, digital imaging techniques are extensively used as non-invasive tools for studying and analyzing artworks in the field of cultural heritage These methods provide critical structural information that supports conservation efforts or the development of the most appropriate restoration strategies. Among the case studies, the analysis of panel paintings represents a challenging task, requiring the use of suitable and complementary diagnostic approaches to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the artwork’s condition and its technical characteristics. Imaging techniques operating in the infrared spectrum are reliable, non-invasive, and non-contact methods for performing in situ analyses of artworks. In this study, we examined a 16th-century panel painting by Marco Cardisco, titled Adoration of the Magi, using both infrared reflectography (IRR) and active thermography (AT) techniques. For the AT approach, we applied a low-power pulsed thermal stimulation and analyzed the acquired thermal images in both spatial and temporal domains by combining the results achieved through Principal Component Thermography (PCT) and Thermal Recovery Trend (TRT) methods. The data collected from the two infrared imaging techniques, IRR and AT, were compared and evaluated across different areas of the painting, discussing and demonstrating their complementarity. This combined approach provided valuable insights into the technical and structural features of the artwork, thereby enhancing our understanding of its condition and state of conservation.