Comparative effectiveness of techniques for examining the canvas, paint, and the pictorial structure of 16th- and 17th-century Chinese paintings

The paper primarily examines and compares the effectiveness of techniques for analyzing the paint, canvas, and pictorial structure of a painting to determine its condition, age, and authenticity. The study was conducted in four phases. In the first phase, the study employed a stereo microscope, UV–Vis–NIR reflectance spectroscopy, X-ray imaging, X-ray fluorescence, and biochemical analysis in order to examine a sample of paintings. During the second phase, the results of analyzing authentic paintings and reproductions were compared to understand the distinctive features that aid in determining a piece's authenticity. During the third phase, the test findings and scores (in terms of compositional arrangement, the depiction of shapes using color, proficiency in painting techniques, color, and harmonic solution) assigned to these paintings were compared. The fourth phase included a survey conducted among experts to obtain their opinions on special programs and technologies for examining the canvas, paints, and pictorial structure. Research findings revealed the analysis methods preferred by experts and the domains of painting research in which these methods prove to be most effective.