Blog Posts
Poor Lamb
The Polyptych of the Mystical Lamb by Van Eyck is again open to the public, with new lighting but above all with a new, very expensive, case, necessary for a better conservation of the artwork.To tell the truth, they should worry about other aspects.We are still convinced of what we wrote a little over a […]
Time to squeeze your brains
The Florence Heritech international conference, characterized by the particular formula that sees a scientific conference taking place together with a restoration and conservation fair, has opened the Call for Papers, for the edition to be held in May 2022.Here the deadlines:July 16, 2021 | Deadline to submit abstractSeptember 30, 2021 | Abstract acceptance notificationDecember 17, […]
Entomology for Dummies
Sometimes the demonstration of how useful, and surprising, the collaboration between art and science in the study of a painting can be, goes beyond common expectations.A few years ago, in the “Olive trees” artwork that Van Gogh painted outdoors in 1889, a grasshopper was found trapped in oil layers. The insect was almost invisible to […]
A wannabe Raphael
500 years after the death of Raphael, and in conjunction with the planned celebrations, a very important project is underway: “Study, restoration and valorisation of the “Putto holding a garland” of the National Academy of San Luca” (here below). The assumption is that the putto may be an original by the Master. The restoration began […]
You always have to be a step ahead of the tomb rider
Unfortunately, the world of archaeological heritage is increasingly subjugated by criminal practices. The mind immediately goes to the infamous “grave robbers” who have plundered and still plunder our soil and our seas in search of antiquities. But this practice has also been documented, for example, to the detriment of the Medici tombs. The portraits of […]
Modigliani under Investigation
Life, death, his fortune, the inheritance he left, the history of the “Archives”, fakes, foundations, exhibitions.Already in January we discussed the innovative exposition that the Museum of Lille created for Amedeo Modigliani. An exhibition with an investigative approach. But, given the pandemic we are in, it was not possible to open it, and also the […]
What’s behind it?
A year has passed, we have 12 months behind us in which our life and our work have changed. Looking back to understand the present is part of our work, as is the careful study of the “back” of a painting. Very often the “verso”, “back” of a work makes the “front”, the “recto” more […]
Dante’s icons
Almost 720 years ago, March 10, 1302, “Alighieri Dante is convicted of bartering, fraud, falsehood, wilful misconduct, malice, unfair extortion practices, illicit proceeds, pederasty, and is sentenced to a fine of 5000 florins, perpetual disqualification from public office , perpetual exile (in absentia), and if he is taken, burned at the stake, so that he […]
Precious colours of the empire
The recent discovery of a very rare Chinese porcelain reminds us of another remarkable discovery for Eastern art and technique in which we were involved. A few days ago, thanks to a search started in 2014, a RU bowl belonging to the Song dynasty was identified within the collection of the Dresden museum. A similar […]
Leonardo and the magic world of auctions
The renewed controversy over the attribution of Leonardo’s Salvator Mundi calls for a reflection on how it has become all-important not so much to choose which painting to buy but which attribution. We have seen several times how the purchase of some artworks was later refused because of a disputed attribution. Indeed, the painting does […]
Young is Beautiful (and Efficient)
Gabriel Zuchtriegel is the new director of the Pompeii Archaeological Park. Not even 48 hours have passed since the appointment and the controversy is pressing. He is judged to be “too young” with “little experience”. On the contrary, during last years, we were able to appreciate his passion and professionalism, and his academic preparation. In […]
I saw a Cat
Cats… they hide everywhere and pop up when you do not expect them! For example, in this painting by Frans Floris in which a cat is visible only thanks to Reflectography, as it is not present in the final version. And, did you know that a painting very similar to this one, now at the Palatine […]
The Third Way for Museums survival
This past year was a fatal year. A year of closures or openings in fits and starts, of crises and layoffs; in short, a disaster for the state of health of art, increasingly overwhelmed by events. The bitter truth is that there is still no end in sight to the pandemic. The average decline in […]
The secrets of the Virgin by Murillo
The Madonna and Child by Bartolomè Esteban Murillo, dated around 1675, counts Gustave Flaubert among its many admirers. He, after having made a trip to Rome in 1851, spoke of it in these terms: “I am in love with the Virgin by Murillo of the Gallery Corsini. Her head haunts me and her eyes continue […]
There’s no place like home
Let’s face it, about a year after the start of the pandemic, we can’t wait to go back to travel. We practice our languages watching series with the original sound tracks, cook recipes from faraway latitudes, write a nostalgic emails to our Erasmus friends, and sighly archive airline newsletters. But. But when something beautiful happens […]
Caravaggio, a star at the Uffizi (also thanks to Art-Test)
We were extremely honored to hear Dr. Maria Matilde Simari talk about the discovery of Art-Test on Caravaggio’s Bacchus during the popular Facebook online events produced by the Uffizi Galleries. Bacco, Caravaggio Multispectral Reflectography by Art-Test, detail A small but extraordinary self-portrait that literally came to light thanks to the multispectral […]
A cup of poison for Florence
On February 3, 1865, Florence became the capital of Italy, to stay so until 1871.The news, which should have made Florentines proud, on the contrary, did not excite them at all. Bettino Ricasoli, who was also Prime Minister, in anticipation of major problems and an equally waste of money, called the move a “cup of […]
The indignation of the Spedalingo
It was January 30, 1518, when Leonardo Buonafede, “spedalingo” or rector of the hospital of Santa Maria Nuova in Florence, commissioned Giovan Battista di Jacopo di Gasparre, a promising artist of humble origins, without a real surname and called Rosso Fiorentino (Florence, 8 March 1494 – Fontainebleau, 14 November 1540) a Sacred Conversation with the […]
Did scientific evidence make all the difference?
Portrait of a Young Man Holding a Roundel, by Sandro Botticelli, was last offered at auction at Christie’s London in December 1982 with the title Portrait of Giovanni de Pierfrancesco de’ Medici and it was sold to the New York real estate magnate Sheldon Solow for a then-record £810,0000 ($1.1 million in today’s currency). Some eminent […]
It was a dark and stormy night
The night between 26 and 27 January 1601 must have been not so peaceful. A very violent lightning struck Verrocchio’s golden ball that overlooks the dome of the Florence Cathedral, threw it off and dropped it where a plaque still remembers the point of impact. The impression was enormous. It was seen as a clear […]
An Xrays can change your life!
Much of what we know about Van Gogh comes from his correspondence, especially with his brother Theo, collected and published posthumously by Johanna van Gogh-Bonger, his brother’s widow. In one of the letters, dated January 22, 1886, composed while studying in Antwerp at the Academy, Vincent also writes “… this week I painted a big […]
Procida Italian Capital of Culture 2022
Procida Capital of Italian Culture almost seemed to be an oxymoron. An island, a territory albeit full of history, tradition, very small and on top of it, in the middle of the sea. To apply, knowing that the beautiful postcards with Procida unrivalled landscapes, that have been used by the most renowned brands for years, […]
Open Museums / Closed Museums
Even today, almost a year after the onset of the pandemic, culture does not give up and continues to grit its teeth patiently. The online programming of foundations and museums continues unabated, cultural activities on social networks and on the various sites are increasingly numerous. The hope is to keep interest alive, and increasingly shorten […]
Work in regress
January 1 2021 marks not only the beginning of the new year, which hopefully will be better than the horrendous 2020, but also the beginning of a new era for Great Britain which, after 47 years, has left the European Union. This means that the UK is now a “third country” for the EU.Despite the […]
Modigliani for all
Never have paintings raised more doubts on authenticity than those attributable to Amedeo Modigliani. Even when they are signed, with flawless provenance, doubt lingers. For years, a painting hwas accepted as authentic only if accompanied by the expertise of very few “connoisseurs”, very often without any scientific dossier or, if existing, only self-referential. The opinions […]
Art at Dante’s times
After 2020, the unfortunate year dedicated to Raphael on the 500th anniversary of his death, we are ready to embrace 2021 which in Italy, and around the world, will be the year of Dante’s celebrations, seven hundred years after the death of the great poet. It will be a year full of exhibitions, theatrical productionsmeetings, […]
The discreet charm … of small artworks
If the History of Art was a big puzzle, there would be many pieces known and exhibited in museums, but just as many kept in private collections … and these are all to be studied and attributed! Each new discovery is a great thrill!In this case we report about a small piece, but only in […]
Tell me what blue you are and I’ll tell you when you were born (more or less)
The recent discovery of YInMn Blue, even if the pigment is extremely expensive (€ 148.52 for 40ml), is a joy for artists – always among the first ones to welcome new findings-, but also for art scientists!In fact, the analysis of the pigments used has always been very useful for establishing the dating and provenance […]
A proposal for Botticelli (at auction)
“In the past century, and at the beginning of this one, dealing with Botticelli would have seemed madness”, wrote Symonds, a great scholar, specialist of the Italian Renaissance, in 1877. And in 1895, Bernard Shaw followed, among others: “Today ten acres of Carracci, Giulio Romano, Guido, Domenichino and Pietro da Cortona, would not buy an […]
Sustainability: anything to do with Culture?
With a crescendo reminiscent of Zimmer’s musical pieces, in recent years we have increasingly heard, read and defined the word: sustainability.In the beginning it seemed to be almost something elitarian but it turned out to be quite the opposite.So what does sustainable mean for us? Is culture sustainable? Should it be?Perhaps the time has come […]
Picasso, it wasn’t you
Art diagnostics is, among other things, an outpost for the protection of cultural heritage. The case we are presenting here is one of the many we have treated. Not all of them become public, and they do not all end in court. In France legislation imposes to destroy fake paintings. Perhaps this is too extreme. […]
Museums and theatres closed for Christmas? What next?!
Galleries, concert halls, exhibitions have been mostly off-limits since March, with some rare exceptions. And what will they do now, in this holiday period that usually sees them as protagonists? Over the past few months they have shown admirable resilience. Conferences, guided tours, presentations, vernissage, exhibitions, much has been online, available for free from home, […]
The essential… is hanging in a dusty corner!
“One sees clearly only with the heart. The essential is invisible to the eye “, said the fox to the Little Prince according to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.But the “essential” protagonist of our story is visible and is visible above all to diagnostic investigations such as reflectography, radiography, x-ray fluorescence and dendrochronology. We are talking about […]
Let’s Play!
Up to 10 pairs of Paintings and their Xray images are waiting for you to match them! Do you know their secrets? For each match you will get their stories.
Will the show go on?
We also love the virtual tours, the lessons, the interviews, the insights that museums and cultural institutions are publishing online. But we would like to dispel a doubt. These videos are produced in an attempt to keep the cultural world visible. Many videos are interesting, some illuminated, almost all enriching With a digital platform it […]
1630 plague bacteria still around
The papers presented at Florence Heritech, a scientific conference on restoration and diagnostics of cultural heritage, have been published in the IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering journal. A great opportunity for those who missed the event, to still browse through them. Art-Test contributed with a work that paves the way for the scientific […]
Blue Moon
It could be the soundtrack to this news, or, maybe, “Blue eyes, baby’s got blue eyes, like a deep blue see on a blue, blue day!” as Elton John sang in the early 1980s and again in the Premium subscription of many of us You probably thought you knew him well. He was the subject […]
Tale of two copies and one thief (a Cardinal)
When in 1507 the Raphael’s Baglioni Altarpiece was placed on the altar of San Matteo in the Church of San Francesco al Prato, in Perugia, no one would ever have imagined that about 100 years later Cardinal Scipione Borghese would have craved its possession so much to commission its theft. Robbery that, following the riot […]
A scientific approach is always crucial. Even museums know it!
The case of the Ludwig Museum in Cologne is very topical, with the exhibition “Russian Avant-garde at the Ludwig Museum: original and fake. Questions, research, explanations”, which sees works certified as authentic (for example by Kazimir Malevich and Natalia Goncharova) alongside others whose attribution was rejected by the museum’s researchers, following an investigation campaign diagnostics […]
From riches to rags
Going from half a million euros to nothing. Can the seller be held responsible for it? Watch out for timing!
A Vasari in the attic
The picture from private collection, “The temptations of St. Jerome”, attributed to Giorgio Vasari, a brilliant painter, architect, historian and biographer of the Italian Renaissance, was sold at auction at a world-record price for the artist of 800,000 euros. A great satisfaction for the auction house, and a supposedly good time for ancient art, even […]
Ugly?
Armine Harutyunyan was recently addressed as the “ugly” Gucci model and violently attacked.This was certainly not the judgement that Laura Battiferri received five centuries ago.The important nose did not frighten Bronzino when he wanted to portray her, and, evidently, she did not have a problem with it either.The profile brought her, a poetess, closer to […]
An Hard Glass Ceiling for Female Artists
Have you ever wondered if art today is truly free, if it is truly democratic or if it makes distinction between sexes? Making art is in all probability one of the oldest profession, and the presence of women in this area has been documented since a long time, certainly centuries. However, women artists have only […]
Clearance Sale
Have you ever tried to imagine your life without art? That thing you always thought was frivolous, superficial and superfluous, not your core business, bit of a waste of time, that thing that I may read later, now I don’t feel like it, it is not so important. The same thing that makes you better, […]
I did not like Tenet
Is art only a matter for good family ladies or unscrupulous forgers? The portrait of the art world in many of the media is polarized around these two scenarios, which are also punctually to be found in Christopher Nolan’s film. The movies still amazes with special effects, but bores with unnecessary shootings and even more useless stereotypes about the art world. And […]
A new Sisley
Family affairsInheritances never leave us unmoved: they inevitably accompany a passage, they bring with them existential/geographical reflections (who we are, where we come from, where we go… etc. etc.), they disappoint the venal when they do not meet their expectations, especially when horrible cousins come in the way. We don’t know exactly what emotions are […]
Wishlist
Let’s face it, if we’re part of the big group of mere mortals, our online shopping will probably cover yet another pair of “uncomfortable but I must have them” high heels, yet another beige cardigan that we’re sure won’t be damaged by the wrong washing, as it happened with the previous twenty ones (we’re sure […]
Florence Heritech conference
What if, instead of the artworks, are the diagnostics tests to be falsified? […]
Eyes Wide Shut
The longstanding question regarding the authentication of artworks, both old master and modern ones, is always relevant. Even today, no shared scientific protocols have been established, so to start a correct discussion on this topic. Not later than last week, this problem became clear again at auction.Two paintings declared “FOLLOWER OF SIR PETER PAUL RUBENS, […]
The Day After
The day after is about to arrive. What will change in the art world?Il Giornale dell’Arte dedicates an insert to the reopening.136 contributions from museum directors, superintendents, foundations directors but also gallery owners, auction house managers and publishers. All aware that the return to normality will not mean restoring the same status quo of March 8.Let us comment […]
The dark side of the moon
Illicit trafficking in works of art to finance terrorism, money laundering, hidden financing.“Organized crime has many faces,” added Catherine de Bolle, Europol’s executive director. “The trafficking of cultural goods is one of them: It is not a glamorous business run by flamboyant gentlemen forgers, but by international criminal networks. You cannot look at it separately from combating […]
To Selfie or not to selfie
Selfie” in 2013 was elected as “word of the year”, and still maintains its place in the vocabulary. Selfies are not just an ephemeral fashion and it doesn’t matter if the first assonance is with selfish. Being is sharing and if you don’t share, you are nobody.Art often ends up being just a background. And […]
Federico Zeri confesses himself!
Federico Zeri, one of the most famous Italian art historians (also for having resigned from the Board of Directors of the Getty of Malibu ‘following the acquisition of a Kouros later proved false), a tireless researcher and distinguished populariser, who on his death in 1998 left a gigantic photo library at the University of Bologna, […]
Art -Testiamo: Modigliani, a wasted opportunity
Part of our job is to visit as many exhibits as possible. This is why we went to Livorno. The city that gave birth to Modigliani, exhibits his works not far from the place where the famous “heads” were found. Goliardic prank that, perhaps, marked the destiny of Modigliani’s works, constantly questioned on autography.Just before […]
El Greco on tour
Are you in Paris for these holidays and you have not yet booked the visit to the Leonardo exhibition?Perhaps not everyone knows that in these very same days at the Galerie Sud-Est du Grand Palais there is a surprising exhibition on El Greco. European painter par excellence, also in his name: half in Spanish and half […]
AAA Leonardo wanted
The year of Leonardo is about to end, the 500th anniversary of his death.In Italy mostly ancillary exhibitions have been organized, the biggest event being the great exhibition at the Louvre.In France, where he spent a couple of years, mostly very sick, and died, they have organized a big celebration. Many works of the Italian […]
ARTESTIAMO – seen, read, observed for you – A family … torn to pieces (and then reunited … or almost)
During our last trip to Belgium, we visited the exhibition DUTCH SPRING: Frans Hals Portraits A Family Reunion at Royal Museum of Fine Arts of Belgium.Until May 19, it will be possible to enjoy this small exhibition that focuses on on the innovative approach to the “family portraits” of the Flemish painter. Beyond the excellent […]
LuBeC 2019: the possible future of Culture: musea as metropolitan hub to resist against barbarism?
Among fairs dedicated to cultural heritage, Lucca Cultural Heritage (LuBeC), now in its fifteenth edition, has found a specific place. Its original and original vocation is to participate in the debate between public administration and business and to generate concrete actions for a culture that produces not only economic but also social results. The landscape of […]
That’s fair!
Even if the sector in general appears to be in a bit of a crisis, there are still quite a number of fairs organized on conservation, in Italy and in the world. In our country, this year there will be two within a few months. In the International Restoration Fair in Ferrara, (18th to 20th […]
60 years of dreams
Next 21st September, the BIAF, the Biennial International Antiques Fair of Florence, will open its doors in Palazzo Corsini. It will be sixty years after the first edition, noticeably in a very different context, compared with when one in whitch the Bellini brothers commenced the adventure. For two weeks the city will attract, also relying […]
The costs of not doing it!
The costs for a diagnostic campaign to authenticate a painting may seem high, but they are always a good investment.Without a painting having positively passed a series of tests to determine the compatibility of methods and materials with the period or the envisaged author, there is the risk of running into a fraud, which can […]
Have we found the Lost Caravaggio?
In 2006 “Il Caravaggio perduto”, by J. Harr, was published. The volume describes the discovery of a painting by the Italian Master that had been lost for centuries. The protagonists are a great art historian and a PhD graduate, who discovers, in the inaccessible and forgotten archive of the Mattei family, in Recanati, the proof […]
Special Investigation Corps: Art Detective
As already announced in the last newsletter, Art-Test (devi prendere quella en) will be teaching staff of the master NON-INVASIVE ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES FOR CULTURAL HERITAGE: THE PICTORIAL WORKS organized by the Center for Criminological Studies. Have you wondered how to discover if a painting is authentic or fake? This is the master for you. You […]
A NEW POLICY OF ARTWORK AUTHENTICATION WAS THE REAL NOVELTY OF LAST TEFAF EDITION
Sunday, March 24th the 32nd edition of the Tefaf Maastricht ended. Once more a grand edition, confirming this exhibition as the most prestigious art and antiquity fair worldwide. In the Netherlands the first appointment, to be followed by New York Spring and New York Fall. Looking forward to visiting the American editions, three of […]
Rubens anyone? Brafa report from Bruxelles
Museum pieces again this year at BRAFA in Brussels. Far from the haughtiness of TEFAF, the Belgians continue to attract more and more visitors (64 thousand against the 61 thousand of the 2017 edition) and to offer very interesting objects. The star of the exhibition is definitely a RUBENS, recently rediscovered, after appearing at Christie’s auction in […]
Why not specialize in Crimes against Cultural Heritage?
The 4th edition of the Master in Legal Archeology and Crimes against Cultural Heritage, based in Rome, will begin in March 2018. This course, organized by the CSC, “Center for Criminological, Legal and Sociological Studies” of Viterbo, in collaboration with the “Osservatorio Internazionale Archeomafie”, aims to prepare professional profiles on the objectives, modus operandi, strategies and […]
Show and tell: in Aosta, an intelligent exhibition
What is the purpose of exhibitions? To lengthen the CV of the curators, or to offer opportunities for in-depth study for everyone, from scholars to simple enthusiasts? In the case of the exhibition “La Strage degli Innocenti. Manifesto of Raphaelism by Guido Reni “, inaugurated on January 13th and open until February 18th in Aosta, there […]
Art conservation meets science at Florence Heri-Tech
The next Salone dell’Arte e del Restauro will be on 16-18 May ’18 at the Palazzo dei Congressi, Florence (I). This year’s edition presents an important new element: alongside the usual event, an international conference Florence Heri-tech has been organized (deadline for abstracts submission 15 Nov ’17). The international scientific community will gather to discuss about conservation, diagnostic and fruition […]
Extraordinary artworks on exhibition, but a lost opportunity as well
An astonishing sixteenth century Florentine school painting exhibition is currently on display at Palazzo Strozzi in Florence. Some of the masterpieces of Western art have been gathered for this occasion, including the massive altarpieces “Deposition from the cross” of Volterra (1521) by Rosso Fiorentino and “Deposition of Santa Felicita” (1525-1528) by Pontormo. Also on display e.g. the sculpture “River […]
Leonardo: is it the real deal?
The “Salvator Mundi”, recently rediscovered and attributed to Leonardo, goes to auction at Christie’s, with an estimated value of about $ 100M. Will it be sold? Will it come back to Italy? With all the spotlights on this painting, someone started playing devil’s advocate, questioning the authorship, pointing to some alleged mistakes in the representation of the orb […]
Elegance from the East: New Insights from Old Porcelain
Art and Science are close in many ways. “Elegance from the East, insights from old porcelain” (Indianapolis Museum of Art, till 22nd October) explores the popularity and variety of Chinese porcelain objects made for export to Western consumers in the 17th and 18th centuries. Chinese artists customized their traditional forms and decoration for European and American […]
Is it Michelangelo? Are we on the verge of a new discovery?
Art-Test has been called to shed light on the matter in a small church near Florence Who painted the “Pietà di Marcialla”? The issue has been debated for many years, but only on last 9th of May the first analyses were carried out on the wall painting in Santa Maria a Marcialla, a small church on the […]
Goya at Pontedera before taking the flight to the Hermitage!
From June 15th to August 10th, the PALP (Palazzo Pretorio di Pontedera) will host the exhibition “Goya and Guido Reni. Art Treasures at the Palp”. Two intense self-portraits of Goya, one of 1771 and the other of 1782 will be shown to the public after years of specialist study, accompanied by the diagnostic campaign conducted by Art-Test. The scientific […]
Art-Test seeking Michelangelo
Is it Michelangelo? Are we on the verge of a new discovery? Art-Test has been called to shed light on the matter in a small church near Florence Who painted the “Pietà di Marcialla”? The issue has been debated for many years, but only on last 9th of May the first analyses were carried out […]
Art Diagnostics: The G7 Declaration Of Florence, And Happy Easter!
In the picture the Palmira Arch, destroyed by IS, virtually reconstructed and 3D “printed”. The artwork was exposed before Palazzo Vecchio in Florence during the G7 of Culture Meeting. Florence hosted the first G7 of culture or the Summit of Ministers of Culture of the seven most developed countries (United States, Japan, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Canada). […]
Rape of the Sabines: a 4,10 m tall bozzetto!
It is not, and it was not, a common practice to make full size models for statues. But apparently Giambologna (Jean de Boulogne), at the time of this commission for Piazza della Signoria in Florence, was best known for “small” things, and he wanted to immediately silence who did not trust his abilities to work […]
Which came first the egg (tempera) or the antependium?
How did polyptichs appear? Was the Byzantine Icon to move to the altar, or was it the antependium? Why from preparing the wooden panels with parchment and two layers of gesso, gilding became limited to frames? What are the roads followed by icons and art objects in their passage from East to West? How was the […]
Where do you buy masterpieces?
In the year of Hieronymus Bosch (500 years after his death) to see his works you could go to his hometown, ‘s-Hertogenbosch, (or, as the Dutch say, Den Bosch) in the Netherlands, otherwise in Vienna or Berlin… To buy them instead, you could go to BRAFA, the antique fair in Brussels, where available for sale were the […]
Lost and found
Under three of the paintings decorating the altars designed between 1565 and 1570 by Giorgio Vasari for Santa Maria Novella, a series of mural paintings were discovered – dating from the end of ‘200 to the beginning of’ 500. The altars were meant to beautify and modernize the Dominican church of Florence, however they only covered pre-existing frescos, […]
Learn how to fight fakes with a Master
The trade of fake artworks is a crime. But what is a fake, and how can you recognize it? Last January 14th Art-Test Florence held a lecture on“TECHNIQUES OF SCIENTIFIC DATING – Artistic and architectural heritage, artworks origin analysis and false works recognition through scientific testing. Case Studies”. The Master in “Judicial frauds and Crimes against […]
Art-Test moved!
We have chosen a new, more prestigious location. The new building ,Palazzo Frescobaldi, is way more central,with just a 5 min walk from Ponte Vecchio, but more importantly it offers an increased security level for our customers, thanks to a 24/7 guard at the entrance . We will throw a party in spring to celebrate, as […]
Art is Science 2016
As usual by this time of the year, AIAr organizes a new edition of “Scienza e’ Arte”. And Art-Test takes part in one of the events. This time we will be in Paestum! The museum of the Archaeological Park hosted a particularly interesting exhibition entitled “Possession”. During the exhibition, AiAr, with its institutional partners and the companies in its network (among […]
Are they False? Fake? Copies? How to assess it?
The eye is not enough but an incomplete diagnostics campaign is also not enough We say that the best way to assess the essence of a person is to look into their eyes, which are the mirror of the soul. But these same eyes, when used to judge a work of art, may be an […]
Analysing the Scapigliata by Leonardo
The wonderful “Female Head” of Leonardo, also known as “Scapigliata” or “Lady of disheveled hair” preserved at the National Gallery of Parma, represented for Leonardo da Vinci a sort of manifesto of his status of excellent painter and, at the same time, a sort of a safe-conduct for his habit of not finishing his paintings, according to the […]
A small island with big plans!
Procida, a small island in the bay of Naples, became the protagonist of a conference focused on the possibility for it of being a recuperation model in the broadest sense. Its historical heritage could in fact become the engine of economic and cultural wealth. “The Island of Procida: the sustainable rebirth and the beauty economy” is the title […]
The world needs beauty!
Pope Francis in one of his first posts on Instagram seems to be idling talking about beauty. One may wonder, aren’t there more serious problems? Should he not better speak of poverty, of hunger in the world? Or is it true that we all indeed do need beauty in our lives, independently from our conditions? […]
Paintings out of jail: the restoration of the paintings of Porto Azzurro.
On the 9th of April, at SACI (www.saci.florence.edu) a symposium was held on the paintings belonging to the Church of San Giacomo Maggiore the Fort of Elba, now the chapel of the current penitentiary. The Symposium was an interesting opportunity to learn, thanks to the Superintendent of Pisa, Dott. Francesco D’Anselmo, the official Amedeo Mercurio and to Dr. […]
Fake? I’ll buy it!
At the upcoming auction “14th to 20th century paintings” scheduled for the 17th of May in Florence at Pandolfini’s auction house, a “Madonna with the Child and an angel” on wood, 59×42 cm, 112×77 cm with frame, painted by the well-known forger Umberto Giunti (Siena 1886-1970) is offered with an estimate of 8000/12000 euros. Not a novelty in […]
A new Rembrandt. 3D printed
The quintessence of Rembrandt. The subject of the painting (a white man, aged between 30 and 40, with beard and moustaches, typical eyes, nose, mouth, facial proportions and dressed in the characteristic Dutch clothes), the brushstrokes, the shading of light.. all formal values point towards one painter: Rembrandt. No part betrays an imitator, or may […]
CARAVAGGIO OR NOT CARAVAGGIO?
For Art-Test, the Aiar appointment is double. If you have missed the interesting workshop on Caravaggio last April in Empoli, you can take the opportunity to see the work of Art-Test in conjunction with S.T. Art-Test entitled “Caravaggio or not Caravaggio? Preliminary scientific evidence for the attribution of the St. John the Baptist of Empoli […]
MADE IN CHINA: GENUINE OR FAKE?
Chinese porcelain is one of the great protagonists of the art market in recent years; but how do you prove that such pieces are worthy a relevant investment and are not fake? Experience has taught that for great quality imitations, the traditional authentication methods based on the study of style, decoration, materials and trademarks, often proved to […]
No Photoshop, thanks! WIFS 2015
During the “7th IEEE International Workshop on Information Forensics and Security (WIFS) 2015”, on November 19, a paper by L.Pronti, P. Ferrara, F.Uccheddu, A. Pelagotti and A.Piva entitled “Identification of pictorial materials by means of optimized multispectral reflectance image processing.” will be presented. The work relates to the analysis of the limits and the […]
Caravaggio keeps raising interest
A conference about the influence of the Lombard painter in Northern Europe is scheduled for the end of November at the Museum Catharijneconvent, Utrecht (NL). The conference aims to shed new light on the diversity of artistic responses derived from the works painted by Caravaggio during the first decades of the seventeenth century. Interesting is also the proposal to […]
Art and(is) Science
We are happy to invite you to “Sotto-sopra, quando le indagini rivoluzionano la conoscenza di un’opera d’arte!” : an event conceived by S.T.Art-Test and Art-test, and organized in collaboration with the Gallery of Modern Art and the Culture Department of the City of Palermo, and the “Youth Committee: Sicily region – Italian National Commission for […]
A hidden magician!
The exhibition dedicated to ‘Carlo Dolci 1616-1687’ is in full swing at the Palatine Gallery in Florence, with about seventy works on display (including many from prestigious international museums, like the British Museum in London, the Musée du Louvre in Paris , and the Alte Pinakothek in Munich of Bavaria) in dialogue with works by […]
Art and(is) Science: together again
Preparations are underway for the second edition and Art and(is) Science! Following the success of last year, Aiar (Italian Association of Archaeometry) organizes for the first weekend of November, together with the initiative of Mibact “A Sunday at the Museum”, a new national meeting entirely dedicated to the interaction between art and science, culture, society […]
Dolci: sweet name, icy brush
Carlo Dolci a patient technique Carlo Dolci, said Carlino, a beloved and acclaimed artist by the critics of his time, considered the greatest Florentine painter of the seventeenth century, contended by European nobility (although he almost never left the Tuscan territory), is now back in the spotlight thanks to the monographic exhibition running until November […]
Goya: positive test
Recently published by Etgraphiae, the relevant book “Goya through his self-portraits” by Paolo Erasto Mangiante, already author of the fundamental book “Goya and Italy” (Palombi Editore). In his latest book the author provides a new interpretation of the many self-portraits by Goya, identifying five categories, and through them tracing the often dramatic events of the life of the Aragonese […]
When technique matters: extraordinary effects, extraordinary losses.
Piero di Cosimo On show this summer in Florence the monographic exhibition “Piero di Cosimo eccentric painter between Renaissance and Mannerism” (Uffizi, until 27/9), following the one recently concluded at National Gallery of Art in Washington. Lent to Washington and now worth a visit in Florence, among others the extraordinary “Liberation of Andromeda“, as according […]
“The great beauty” for the TECHNART 2015 Conference.
Researchers from more than 50 nations met in Catania debating on advanced diagnostics for the works of art. Different approaches to diagnostics and conservation of artworks, and new analytical methodologies were presented during a 3 day high level scientific international conference taking place in Sicily. These new devices mainly address the non-invasive study of original, […]
Is there work in science for cultural heritage?
In Ferrara to discuss the future of this discipline During the next edition of the Restoration Fair in Ferrara, held from May 6-9, 2015, Art-Test will be present in a stand shared with partners and collaborators of AIAr (Italian Association of Archeometry) as well as at a meeting on Friday, May 8th, titled: “Are there […]
AN UNFORGETTABLE (OUT)LOOK
Caravaggio or not Caravaggio? A report on the 11th April Study Day “The Mother of Caravaggio is always pregnant”, is the title of a provocative pamphlet by Tomaso Montanari, meant to emphasize how often we talk about discoveries without the support of adequate research. This is not the case of the painting from Empoli, for […]
A quiz, again, Caravaggio in Empoli?
Saturday, April 11 2015, the Church of St Stephen Augustinian in Empoli will host the workshop“From Caravaggio. The San Giovanni Battista Costa and his copies” moderated by Prof. Bruno Santi. This subject had a great fortune, in Italy and abroad. There are at least 8 known versions of this painting, with different and controversial attributions. Which […]
Technart, the Italian edition.
The 2015 edition of Technart: the biennial international conference for the promotion and the meeting of experts of science applied to cultural heritage is approaching. The event, organized by Southern National Laboratories of the National Institute of Nuclear Physics, the Istituto per i Beni Archeologici e Monumentali and the University of Catania (Department of Chemistry) […]
At Restoration Fair Ferrara … with AIAr!
The annual Restoration Fair Ferrara will open again from 6 to 9 May 2015! Art-Test and S.T.Art-Test await you at the AIAr, Italian Association of Archaeometrybooth. This network of firms active in the Cultural Heritage field will present its activities geared to the dissemination of achievements and scientific research in the field. A workshop has […]
Art-Test…to watch!
The Art Test channel on Youtube is born! You can finally see some videos of our work, including the report that the Rai TV program “Superquark” dedicated to the discovery of the authenticity of a Caravaggio painting in collaboration with Roberta Lapucci, and the presentation “Beyond Gold. More than meets the eyes” with some of […]
FIAT LUX! Photonics to the benefit of art!
UNESCO has declared 2015 the year of light, to spread knowledge and awareness on how this is, in its broadest sense, from LED light bulbs to X-rays, through optical fibers, an excellent resource for addressing global challenges concerning health, sustainability, growth and … ART! During the grand opening ceremony in Paris attended by five Nobel […]
Piero di Cosimo in America!
For the first time the Uffizi Gallery in Florence is co-organizer of an exhibition along with another museum; we are referring to the first major retrospective of Piero di Cosimo, that the National Gallery of Art in Washington is hosting from February 1st to May 3rd, 2015: “Piero di Cosimo: The Poetry of Painting in […]
European Art’s path…to the Bozar!
Concluding the semester of Italian Presidency of the EU Council and the exhibition “Ars Narrandi in Euope’s Gothic Age” at the Bozar, i.e. the Centre de Beaux-Arts in Brussels, (exhibition to be hosted from March 21 to August 17, 2015 at the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Rouen), a symposium entitled “Path to Europe: influences and […]
Under the hammer
The news that, after forty years of “absence”, a Caravaggio will be put for sale has aroused great interest among the press, the curious and collectors. Between 27 and 29 of January, Christie’s will propose, as part of the Old Masters Week, the oil on canvas Boy peeling a fruit of which there are at least ten versions and […]
Aiar
The Italian Association of Archaeometry (AIAR) has initiated a coordination between companies operating in the sector of Cultural Heritage (multinationals, small and medium enterprises or spin-offs), thanks to the initiative of young people who have trained at several institutions and Universities and who are now (or have been) members of the AIAR. The purpose of these […]
Happy Holidays from Art-Test!
Here is the adoration of the Shepherds by Andrea di Niccolò (1470-1480), from the Conservatory of Santa Maria Maddalena in Siena and now in the Pinacoteca Nazionale. We have selected it to illustrate not only the nativity, but also our love for art and our satisfaction for discoveries which are possible through our research. The results of scientific analyzes tell […]
Contemporaneamente Art-Test
We are pleased to invite you to the conference “DIAGNOSTIC AND RESTORATION OF CONTEMPORARY ARTWORKS. WHICH MEANS TO USE?” Organized by Art – Test Firenze in collaboration with the Institute for Art and Restoration Palazzo Spinelli. At CONTEMPORANEAMENTE 2014, a project that combines art, design, craft and contemporary culture, produced by Associazione Via Maggio (and […]
Back to learning, art and science
On the 12th and 13th December is the first National event dedicated to the interaction between art and science, a two-day of studies and insights about the relationship between art, science and culture . S.T.Art-Test , the diagnostic services company with which Art-Test Firenze collaborates, participate in the initiative, taking place at the Archaeological Museum […]
The Restoration fair in Florence is back: Save the date!!
From the 13th to the 15th of November, Florence hosts the important Italian restoration biannual fair dedicated to paintings. Three days for the most important Italian and non-Italian realities in the field to meet, share and debate experience and achievements. How to combine art, technology and knowledge will be the central topic for this fourth […]
Ars Narrandi in Europe’s Gothic Age, Siena and Art-Test at the BOZAR in Bruxelles
More than 800 people took part to the inauguration of the exhibition “Painting from Siena: Ars Narrandi in Europe’s Gothic Age”, last September 9th at the Palais de Beaux-Arts (BOZAR) in Brussels. Also the President of the European Commission, Jose’ Manuel Barroso, joined the event, (and in his speech mentioned his love for Siena), together […]
Art-Test in the land of the rising sun!
“Geijutsu Schincho” is a well-known Japanese magazine, dealing with art, history, photography and design. The last special issue was devoted to the exhibition “Art in Florence, from Botticelli to Bronzino, towards a modern style” at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, 11th October- 14th December2014. This important exhibition aims at illustrating the evolution of the Florentine […]
Siena for IT presidency of EU in Brussels
Among the initiatives for the Italian Semester of Presidency of the European Union (1st July- 31st Dec 2014), the exhibition “Ars Narrandi in the Gothic Age of Europe” (9/11 2014 – 18/1 2015) will enchant visitors at the BOZAR (Centre for Fine Arts) of Bruxelles. The collaboration between Pinacoteca di Siena and the Musée des Beaux-Artes […]
A newly discovered “instagram” of men at work on the Florence’s Dome in 1601!
The diagnostic campaign performed on the “Annunciation” of Santi di Tito in the Carmine Church in Pisa lead to an unexpected discovery and to new insights, crucial for dating the painting. On top of the XRF analyses planned in order to achieved data on the materials present on the painting, and help defining the best […]
Groundbreaking reference database in Siena built upon Art-Test scans and data
Art-Test started just recently working in Siena, on this extensive database, after winning the public competition published by Sovrintendenza of Siena and Grosseto. The project includes the analyses of a selection of masterpieces, both currently exposed and in the deposits, some of which never tested before. A database of diagnostic data, Xrays, IR reflectographies, techniques […]
Art Diagnostics as far as Azerbaijan
The Association YOuth in COnservation of CUltural heritage (YOCOCU) was born 6 years ago, to favour contacts and build a concrete network of young professionals in art conservation, covering a wide range of expertises. The firs three conferences were held between Italy and Belgium (Roma 2008, Palermo 2010 and Antwerp 2012), however for this year […]
Coming soon! Ligozzi in Florence
Will be inaugurated in a few days the monographic exposition of Jacopo Ligozzi “pittore universalissimo” (Verona 1547- Firenze 1627) at Galleria Palatina in Florence (27 May – 28 September 2014) realized jointly with Gabinetto dei Disegni e Stampe of the Uffizi. The work of such talented artist, active for many years in Florence is thoroughly […]
Art-Test on the move!
The no-profit e Authentication in Art (A.I.A.) Foundation, established in 2012, chaired by Prof. Dr Nico Schrijver, comprises a group of international art world professionals (including international collectors, art historians, art market professionals, financial institutions, legal advisers, trust & estate practitioners and other stakeholders in the international art market). The Congress of 2014 was intended […]
Pontormo under the skin
You have time until the 20th of July to admire Pontormo’s restored “Sacra Conversazione”(also known as Pala Pucci) before it returns to its original venue, the Florentine church of San Michele in Visdomini. This masterpiece was highly praised by Giorgio Vasari, who wrote it was “the most notable panel ever made by Pontormo”. It was […]
…. glimpsing …. Leonardo
The 11th of April a superb painting was presented to public as it became, through a highly generous donation of Bernardo Caprotti, part of the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana collection. We had the true privilege to investigate it with IR Scanner Reflectography, IR false color, UV fluorescenze and Multilayer Method. It resulted as one of the most […]
An everthing but small “bozzetto”
We start chronologically from when in March, the diagnostics performed on the ‘Ratto delle Sabine’ by Giambologna, at the Galleria dell’Accademia, in Florence, was presented. This work, which took some time and many skills, since, among others, Xray, UltraSound and Geo-Radar (with the help of S.T. Art-Test) methodologies were employed, led to unveil and understand […]
Ribera ..”won back”!
San Paolo Bank sponsored, this year as well, some restoration works of neglected or needing artworks. Among the most prestigious pieces the “Cristo in meditazione” by Ribera of the Galleria Palatina of Florence was restored by Anna Teresa Monti. The painting with the original signature, was covered by a thick varnish layer and was interested […]
Rich2012
On last December 3rd and 4th, the conference “Robotic Innovation for Cultural Heritage” was held in Venice. Expert of robotic systems, scientists and professionals gathered to evaluate the potentials that this discipline has to offer to diagnostics and conservation of artworks, especially in difficult conditions. A large interest was shown for automatic systems capable of […]
“Art and Restoration Fair”: New product introductions
During the three days of the Fair, Art-Test Firenze has presented an international exclusive novelty, the XRF scanner. In addition to the chemical characterization of surface painting materials, the scanner can obtain images of the colors hidden beneath them. Stay tuned for more details… The advanced technology of the Multilayer® method has received growing interest, […]
An original Self Portrait
Bought at auction as copy, it was confirmed original with the help of the diagnostic analyses performed by Art-Test Florence During the SACI Symposium “Recognizing original artworks”, the self-portrait of Johan Zoffany (1777) has been presented. It was sold at an auction as a copy and it has been recently restored. The artwork shows the […]
Case studies, methodological research, new conservation problems
The International Week for Cultural and Environmental Heritage, Florens 2012, is scheduled to take place in Florence from November 3 to 11. The programme (www.fondazioneflorens.it) includes, with more than 350 lecturers from all over the world, more than 40 meetings, lectio magistralis, round tables, events and urban installations, cultural happenings and musical events. Il Salone […]
International Symposium
“Is there a rule to affirm with certainty whether a fine painting was made by the hands of one or another master, and what is the safest way to set up your very good judgment?” wrote, centuries ago, Filippo Baldinucci, the Florentine art historian to his friend Vincenzo Capponi. The matter of attribution will be […]
Caravaggio’s ‘Portrait of a gentleman’: new discoveries on a touchscreen display.
With an excellent example of museum management, the Museo Civico of Montepulciano puts technology at visitors’ service offering an absolutely innovative opportunity to navigate the secrets of one of its finest pieces: the “Portrait of a Gentleman” recently investigated by Art-Test Firenze, restored by Mary Lippi, and attributed to Caravaggio by Prof. Massimo Pulini. Too […]
The “PORTRAIT OF A CARDINAL” leaves Italy for the first time.
In the catalog it is explained how the canvas, which is part of the Gioviana’s Series in the Uffizi, was attributed to Caravaggio by John Spike in 1995, and how it was recently confirmed in this proposal by Gianni Papi, who also recognizes in the portrait, not the Cardinal Baronius, as stated by the writing, […]
From Brazil the great succes of Caravaggio’s exhibition contributes to update the studies on this master.
While in Italy we keep talking about the alleged attribution to Caravaggio of a hundred drawings, Brazil welcomes with extraordinary enthusiasm the temporary exhibition “Caravaggio and his followers” that includes 6 paintings of the Master and 14 works of the “Caravaggeschi”, i.e. followers of his manner, who lived during his time and were deeply inspired […]
Investigated: Tiziano
“The Martyrdom of St. Lawrence” returns to Alba and reveals an apparent self-portrait of the Master. The restoration of Titian’s masterpiece “The Martyrdom of St Lawrence” required a complex work, lasting about a year time. But diagnostics and conservation intervention, funded by the Bank of Alba, breathes new life into Titian’s work. In fact, the […]
A precious return. The Crucifix at Fuligno’s Cenacolo
On Saturday May 19, in the beautiful location of the ancient Cenacolo di Fuligno museum in Florence, was held the official presentation of “Il Crocifisso del Fuligno”. The book documents the restoration intervention performed on the precious wooden crucifix , unattributed but dated to 1495-1500, and close to Benedetto da Maiano school. The publication goes […]
Caravaggio’s Seminar: the very First Medusa presented in Uppsala.
Caravaggio, the very First Medusa: University of Uppsala, April 25, 2012. Dr. Federica Gasparrini, Professor at University of Florence, and Dr. Eng. Anna Pelagotti, for Art-Test, went through the scientific research and images showing the techniques used by Caravaggio on the two Medusas, Murtola and Medici’s one. The lecture has showed incontrovertible findings on diagnostic […]
Baldovinetti “visite” Paris
The painting by Alessio Baldovinetti of the Uffizi collection, on which Art-Test performed IR reflectography, UV fluorescence and some chemical tests on a microsample, is now in Paris at an important exposition, which gained the first cover of Le Figaro.
A forgotten Raphael
As a result of the investigation of Art-Test, together with the studies of the restorer Lisa Venerosi Pesciolini, and the art-historian Mario Scalini, a forgotten Raphael was discover in Mantova. Now the story is also on Wikipedia.
Multilayer
A breakthrough exclusive technology (patented by Art-Test) that produces an image stratigraphy of the painting surface. A non-invasive method that allows to look underneath varnishes and retouches without the need to physically remove them. The ultimate solution for conservators and art historians!