Giovanna Garzoni Miniaturist at the Savoy Court: Imaging and Materials Investigations to Discover the Painting Technique

The exhibition The Ladies of Art, held at the Palazzo Reale in Milan in 2021, focused on the history of women artists during the 16th and 17th centuries. As part of the exhibition, a series of diagnostic analyses have been carried out on two paintings, thanks to the collaboration of several research institutions. The considered artworks consist of two paintings on parchments, realized by Giovanna Garzoni at the Savoy Court in the 17th century. Diagnostic analyses were performed using different, complementary, and non-invasive techniques: high-resolution multiband imaging, hyperspectral imaging, optical microscopy, X-ray fluorescence, and FORS spectrometry, combined with advanced post-processing techniques, in order to map and distinguish the pigments and the underdrawing of both the paintings. This research is the first conducted on these paintings and one of the few on the entire works of this important miniaturist. The results showed an incredibly meticulous painting technique, with a detailed metal point underdrawing and painstaking brushstrokes to describe the details with a high degree of realism. Precious materials, such as gold and lapislazuli, were identified and mapped. The findings of this work represent a new contribution of knowledge, which helps to lessen the lack of information for systematic studies on the artistic production of G. Garzoni.

Automated summary

The "Ladies of Art" exhibition held in Milan's Palazzo Reale in 2021 focused on the history of women artists in the 16th and 17th centuries. In collaboration with multiple research institutions, diagnostic analyses were conducted on two paintings by Giovanna Garzoni from the 17th century Savoy Court. Non-invasive techniques such as high-resolution multiband imaging, hyperspectral imaging, and X-ray fluorescence were used to map and distinguish the pigments and underdrawing of the paintings. This research provides new insights into the meticulous painting technique of Garzoni and contributes to a better understanding of her artistic production.