title: A Hidden Portrait by Edgar Degas.
abstract: The preservation and understanding of cultural heritage depends increasingly on in-depth chemical studies. Rapid technological advances are forging connections between scientists and arts communities, enabling revolutionary new techniques for non-invasive technical study of culturally significant, highly prized artworks. We have applied a non-invasive, rapid, high definition X-ray fluorescence (XRF) elemental mapping technique to a French Impressionist painting using a synchrotron radiation source, and show how this technology can advance scholarly art interpretation and preservation. We have obtained detailed technical understanding of a painting which could not be resolved by conventional techniques. Here we show 31.6 megapixel scanning XRF derived elemental maps and report a novel image processing methodology utilising these maps to produce a false colour representation of a "hidden" portrait by Edgar Degas. This work provides a cohesive methodology for both imaging and understanding the chemical composition of artworks, and enables scholarly understandings of cultural heritage, many of which have eluded conventional technologies. We anticipate that the outcome from this work will encourage the reassessment of some of the world's great art treasures.
authors.affiliation: National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thurrowgood
authors.affiliation: Australian Synchrotron, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Paterson
authors.affiliation: Australian Synchrotron, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Martin D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: de Jonge
authors.affiliation: The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kirkham
authors.affiliation: Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Saul
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thurrowgood
authors.affiliation: Australian Synchrotron, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Daryl L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Howard