First insights into Chinese reverse glass paintings gained by non-invasive spectroscopic analysis-tracing a cultural dialogue

Steger, Simon; Oesterle, Diana; Mayer, Rupprecht; Hahn, Oliver; Bretz, Simone und Geiger, Gisela (2019): First insights into Chinese reverse glass paintings gained by non-invasive spectroscopic analysis-tracing a cultural dialogue. In: Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, Vol. 11, No. 8: pp. 4025-4034

Abstract

This work presents a technical investigation of two Chinese reverse glass paintings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A multi-analytical, non-invasive approach (X-ray fluorescence (XRF), diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS), Raman spectroscopy) was used to identify the pigments and classify the binding media. The results reveal a combined use of traditional Chinese and imported European materials. Several pigments like cinnabar, lead white, orpiment, carbon black and copper-arsenic green (probably emerald green) were found in both paintings;red lead, artificial ultramarine blue, Prussian blue and ochre appear in at least one of the paintings. The proof of limewash (calcite and small amounts of portlandite) as a backing layer in Yingying and Hongniang indicates that clamshell white was also used for reverse glass paintings. Drying oil was classified as a binding media in most areas of both paintings. However, the orange background of The Archer yielded prominent bands of both proteinaceous and fatty binder.

• Item Type: Journal article
• Faculties: History and Art History > Department of Art History
• Subjects: 900 History and geography > 900 Geschichte
• ISSN: 1866-9557
• Language: English