Element Distribution in Crosssections of Paintings Studied by the X-Ray Macroprobe

The study of the structure and materials of ancient works of art has been much intensified with the development and use of improved analytical techniques. It was considered desirable to apply an X-ray fluorescence technique which could scan polished cross-sections of paint materials embedded in plastic. Layer thicknesses of 20–50 μ were successfully surveyed with an X-ray macroprobe attached to a fine-focus vacuum X-ray spectrograph. Elements above atomic number 16 in areas of 50 μ diameter were successfully detected and precisely located in the cross-section. The method has been applied particularly to the study of the technique of Rembrandt and Lievens paintings.