IPERION HS TNA User Meeting #05

The User Meeting webinars are organized by the HS Academy, a collaborative initiative between IPERION HS and E-RIHS. The two European projects integrate facilities of recognized excellence in Heritage Science, offering access to a wide range of high-level scientific instruments, methodologies, data, tools and training opportunities for advancing knowledge and innovation in the field. 

The 5th User meeting will be held online on March 12th, 2024 at 3 pm (CET, Rome time zone) using the ZOOM webinar platform. Raquel Freixas-Jambert, Cristina Ruiz-Recasens and Marta Oriola-Folch will present their MOLAB project: NON-DESTRUCTIVE IDENTIFICATION OF BROMOIL, OIL AND TRANSFER PHOTOGRAPHS.

Date

March 12th, at 3 pm (Rome time zone)

Duration

Abstract of the user’s Molab access project

The aim of this project is to carry out FTIR, XRF, Raman and UV-VIS-NIR analysis of photographic oil positives, known as oil, bromoil and bromoil transfer photographs, in order to find their key identification features and to extend the knowledge of their constituent materials.

There is no indication in the literature that these analytical techniques have been applied specifically to oil processes, although they have been shown to be useful for other types of photographs. Therefore, this project fills an existing gap, allowing a more precise identification of oil positives, as well as providing detailed information on their composition and possible degradation mechanisms.

The oil photographic processes were very important in the pictorialism of the 19th and 20th centuries. However, the few technical studies that have been published use only visual examination techniques, which is a serious limitation for the identification and characterisation of the process used.

Although the manuals of the time describe the materials used in these photographic processes, it is not clear what the actual compounds of these photographs are due to: variations by the author, possible residues not removed by the baths, by-products of the manufacturing process and changes due to ageing.

Knowing the real compounds found on these photographs is an aspect of great importance for their future conservation.

The project examined 21 original positives (1920-1970) by Dr. Pla Janini, the main exponent of Spanish Pictorialism, from the Museu Marítim de Barcelona and a private collection. We also had access to 9 oil positives more by other artists for comparison.

The MOLAB infrastructure facilitated a study that would not otherwise have been possible, as we did not have access to this type of mobile heritage instrumentation, which is specifically required to analyse safely this type of large-format heritage artwork. The analytical techniques carried out by MOLAB were XRF, FTIR, Raman and UV-VIS-NIR.

It is very important to emphasise that these techniques are non-invasive and non-destructive, so that the integrity and safety of the work analysed was fully respected, which is particularly important for heritage objects as delicate and fragile as photographs.

About the user

Raquel Freixas-Jambert is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Barcelona, nearing completion of her doctorate in the Department of Art and Conservation-Restoration. She obtained a Degree in Conservation-Restoration of Cultural Heritage in 2016 and a Master’s degree in Direction of Conservation and Restoration Projects in 2018, both from the University of Barcelona. In 2015-2016, she received a collaboration grant from the Department of Art and Conservation-Restoration at UB and in 2016-2017, a collaboration grant from the Conservation of Graphic Documents Laboratory at CRAI-UB. In 2017-2018 she did an internship at the Photographic Archive of Lisbon (Portugal). During 2019-2023, she has been awarded a pre-doctoral contract at the Department of Art and Conservation-Restoration of the University of Barcelona to carry out her PhD research. During these years she also taught in the Conservation-Restoration of Cultural Heritage Degree (UB). Her research focuses on the analysis and characterisation of historical photographic materials and processes using non-invasive analysis methods. She is a member of the Conservation-Restoration of Heritage Research Group at UB and of the Photographic Conservation Working Group of the Spanish Group – International Institute of Conservation (Ge-IIC). She is currently working as a freelance in the field of conservation-restoration of graphic documents and photographs, mainly for public institutions.

Cristina Ruiz-Recasens, PhD, obtained a Degree in Fine arts with the Conservation speciality in 2002 at the University of Barcelona. From 2003 until 2005 she participated in the research project Study, documentation and characterization of materials and techniques of the graphic collection of Salvador Dalí, funded by the Fundació Gala- Salvador Dalí. In 2005 she started working at the Conservation Section of the Faculty of Fine Arts (University of Barcelona) where in 2011 she defended her PhD Thesis Evaluation of the effects caused by the use of PVAc in lining modern posters. During these years she also participated in the research project funded by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science “The identification of degradations caused to cultural heritage by PVAc. Treatment proposals”, (HUM 2006-05345), 2006-2009 and the European Project “NanoRestArt” (GA No 646063) (2015-2018). She is currently participating in the research project “Non-invasive characterization and conservation of translucent and lignified supports in graphic documents” (PID2022-142431NB-I00) (2023-2025) funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation. She has done research stages at the Museum Conservation Institute, Smithsonian Institution (USA) and at the Victoria & Albert Museum (UK). Her main current research project is cleaning of works on paper and parchment artefacts. Nowadays she is a Lecturer at the Conservation Section of the Faculty of Fine Arts (UB) where she teaches graphic art conservation at the Bachelor and Master Degrees. She is also co-director of a PhD thesis that will be defended in 2024.

Marta Oriola-Folch, PhD, got a Degree in Fine Arts with the Conservation speciality in 1997 from the University of Barcelona. She then got a Master of Arts in the Conservation of Fine Art, Easel paintings speciality, from the Northumbria University (UK, 2000). From 2000 to 2003 she worked at the Conservation Department of the Cleveland Museum of Art (EUA) to then return to Barcelona to work as a free-lance conservator. In 2007 she started working at the Conservation Section of the Faculty of Fine Arts (University of Barcelona) to do both teaching and research. She defended her PhD Non-destructive condition assessment of painting canvases using NIR spectrometry in 2012 (UB). During these years she has participated in research projects such as: “The identification of degradations caused to cultural heritage by PVAc. Treatment proposals, (HUM 2006-05345), 2006-2009 and the European Project “NanoRestArt” (GA No 646063) (2015-2018). She is currently a Lecturer at the Faculty of Fine Arts where she teaches easel paintings conservation. Her research interests focus on the composition materials of paintings and other works of art. She is also co-director of a PhD thesis that will be defended in 2016.