PIXE ANALYSIS OF ITALIAN XVI CENTURY INK DRAWINGS FROM LUCA CAMBIASO AND HIS SCHOOL

摘要

A group of 15 ink drawings from the Genoese painter Luca Cambiaso (1527-1585), who is considered the most prolific and amongst the most innovative drawers in the history of arts has been analysed with PIXE that is the most convenient technique for the instrumental investigation of inks. The metallo-gallic nature of the inks has allowed singling out some key elements that are used to differentiate the inks within the group of artefacts and extend the stylistic analysis with objective data. Infrared reflectography has been used for the overall examination of drawings. Even in the limited group selected for this first study it seems possible to confirm and strengthen the distinction between originals and school copies and to raise some questions about the washing technique and the use of mixed (carbonaceous + metallo-gallic) inks.