Developing Research Capacities in Art Conservation

This project, conducted between September 2017 and January 2018, outlines the on-going desirable collaboration between the Maastricht Science Programme (MSP) analytical laboratories and the Stichting Restauratie Atelier Limburg (SRAL) conservation studios within the burgeoning field of science applied in art and conservation research.

The project has had the aim to identify a matching area between the conservation research interests of the SRAL team and the potential of instrumentation available at the Maastricht Science laboratories, focusing on the analytical laboratories at the Maastricht MultiModal Molecular Imaging Institute (M4I) and the Aachen-Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials (AMIBM).

The work is carried out by Chiara Manfriani, a conservation scientist who has joined the SRAL team through funding from the Maastricht Science Programme. The project is being conducted with the collaboration and assistance of Shane Ellis (M4I), Jules Harings (AMIBM), Kate Seymour (SRAL) and under the supervision of Gwendoline Fife (SRAL).

A dialogue between all researchers involved has provided an inventory list of the relevant equipment available in the laboratories of both sites. Linking this to an annotated literature review concerning past and current research in this area has enabled an understanding of the capacities of these analytical instruments in the conservation field. The project provides also guidelines on the ease of use and accessibility (in terms of sample requirements and data interpretation) on both commonly-used and cutting-edge techniques, including Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) imaging and secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS), in order to clarify and further develop future collaborations between SRAL and MSP conservators and researchers.

Tests on some samples from different objects of art, including medieval and modern paintings, have been done to define working protocols which will benefit future collaborations. These protocols are currently being evaluated in the context of a student project of the Maastricht Science Programme.

The project also aims to identify innovative research themes within the context of the art conservation field and other European Institutions.

More information about the project partners:
Stichting Restauratie Atelier Limburg (SRAL)
Aachen-Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials (AMIBM)
Maastricht MultiModal Molecular Imaging Institute (M4I)
Maastricht Science Programme