Mapping with Macro X-ray Fluorescence Scanning of Raffaello's Portrait of Leo X

Raffaello is renowned as one of the Old Renaissance Masters and his paintings and painting technique are famous for the details and naturality of the characters. Raffaello is famous in particular for the then-new technique of oil painting, which he mastered and perfected. On the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the death of Raffaello (2020), there was a large exhibition at the Scuderie del Quirinale in Rome, where many paintings and drawings by the Old Master were on show. One of these paintings was the portrait of Leo X with two cardinals belonging to the collection of the Uffizi galleries in Florence. Before going to Rome, the painting underwent conservation treatments at the Opificio delle Pietre Dure, where a comprehensive diagnostic campaign was carried out with the aim of understanding the painting materials and technique of the Old Master. In this paper, the results of macro X-ray fluorescence (MA-XRF) analysis, carried out exploiting the instrument developed by INFN-CHNet, are shown. Among the results, bismuth black and the likely use of glass powders in lakes are discussed.

Automated summary

Raffaello is renowned for his detailed and natural paintings, particularly in the technique of oil painting. In 2020, a large exhibition was held in Rome to commemorate the 500th anniversary of his death, showcasing many of his works. One of these paintings, a portrait of Leo X, underwent conservation and diagnostic analysis before being displayed in Rome. This paper presents the results of macro X-ray fluorescence analysis, discussing the use of bismuth black and glass powders.