X-ray of art history
White lines glow against a black backdrop, branching off and joining together. Structures swirl together at the bottom of the image. What appears at first glance to look like an abstract painting is actually the portrait of a bearded man. Is it a piece of modern art?
Guess again! It’s an X-ray of the head of a medieval wooden sculpture of a prophet. In fact, scientific processes that are more commonly found in medicine, like radiology, are often used in art technology. This field examines the material composition of works of art, and ensures that the art will be preserved for centuries to come through processes like conservation and restoration.
Examination devices often found in chemistry labs or the doctor’s office can also be seen in restoration workshops. Much like how a doctor looks for signs in the body to give an accurate diagnosis, restorers look for details in the art that can’t be seen with the naked eye. These hidden clues can aid in determining the date of creation, function, or original appearance of the work.
A new way to look at old objects
X-rays are a good example of how scientific methods can be used to better understand works of art. The head shown here is one of the eight prophets created from 1430/40 for the Prophets’ Chamber at the historical Cologne City Hall. Over the centuries, the prophets have not only changed location multiple times, but also their appearance.
The ensemble of City Hall prophets underwent technical examination in 2013–2014, during which a variety of processes were used to inspect the sculptures’ structure and reconstruct the chameleon-like colour changes over the years. The multiple layers of paint were reworked numerous times. Based on how the figures look today, one could scarcely imagine the radiant, white cloaks they wore in the 15th century.
The wooden sculptures‘ appearance was also changed during renovations at City Hall. There are even indications that political events in the city had an influence on how the prophets were reworked. This shows that even the materials and the work done on an object have their own story to tell.