Silvia Centeno, a research scientist from the Department of Scientific Research at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, will present a presentation on "Scientific Insights into Artists’ Materials and Deterioration Processes."

The talk will present a brief overview of what we have recently learned about the materials and techniques in paintings by artists such as Rembrandt van Rijn, Johannes Vermeer, Vincent van Gogh, and Jacques-Louis David, addressing issues such as whether the works were meant by the artists to look the way they do today or if their appearances are the result of changes that have occurred over time.

Also, it will highlight how conservators, scientists, art historians, and image specialists work collaboratively to get a sense of how the works may have originally looked when the examination and analyses have revealed that changes have occurred.

In these kinds of studies, the approach typically involves the use of non-invasive analytical methods, such as X-ray fluorescence mapping, multispectral imaging, and
infrared reflectography followed by micro-sampling if deemed necessary and possible.

For the analysis of samples, techniques such as Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopies, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry methods are generally employed.

The results of these investigations are not only crucial for increasing our appreciation of the masterpieces but also for preserving them for future generations.