Optical coatings for artwork preservation and enhanced viewing

A. Piegari; R. Arrighi; I. Di Sarcina; A. Farini

doi:10.1117/12.624644

4 October 2005 Optical coatings for artworks preservation and enhanced viewing

A. Piegari, R. Arrighi, I. Di Sarcina, A. Farini

Proceedings Volume 5963, Advances in Optical Thin Films II; 596309 (2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.624644
Event: Optical Systems Design 2005, 2005, Jena, Germany

Abstract

Many optical methods are nowadays in use in the field of art. Most techniques are applied for characterization of materials, monitoring, diagnostics. Optical thin films can find an interesting application for artwork protection from the damage induced by illumination. The deteriorating effect of light on artworks is well known and the conventional approach to reduce the damage consists in lowering the radiation intensity and shortening the exposure duration. A complementary approach is to block all radiations that are not useful for viewing the artwork. A proper optical coating deposited on glass is able to cut the radiation flux at all wavelengths outside the range of sensitivity of the human eye. Glass is already in use in museum and galleries to protect artwork from vandalism and the use of coated glass can result in a simple method for contributing to art conservation. The optical coating will also improve the viewing because of the antireflection effect that can be combined with the protection properties. Particular care must be taken of this aspect because a compromise between conservation rules and visitor satisfaction must be reached. It is important that the thin-film coating does not introduce color alterations from the point of view of the observer and for this reason color testing on coated glasses must be carried out with real viewers.

Citation Download Citation

A. Piegari, R. Arrighi, I. Di Sarcina, and A. Farini "Optical coatings for artworks preservation and enhanced viewing", Proc. SPIE 5963, Advances in Optical Thin Films II, 596309 (4 October 2005); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.624644

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