Non-invasive diagnostic techniques for studying the Coronation of the Virgin altarpiece by Michele di Matteo

This paper focuses on the study of the Coronation of the Virgin altarpiece by the Bolognese painter Michele di Matteo (1410-1469). In the field of diagnostics and conservation of cultural heritage, non-invasive techniques are increasingly used to study and understand works in depth. Only through these techniques is it possible to preserve the integrity of the work itself. The aim of this preliminary study is therefore to investigate the pictorial composition of the work in a completely non-invasive and non-destructive manner to obtain useful information on the restoration methods that have been applied to the altarpiece over the years, and, where possible, to evidence the differences before and after cleaning. For this purpose, colourimetric and visible reflectance analysis in addition to multispectral imaging techniques were employed. Further analyses are necessary to better understand the composition of the work. Indeed, portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and iperspectral imaging measurements are ongoing, whose application could be useful to obtain information on the elements and compounds that make up the pigments used to paint and decorate the artwork.