Scientists developing technology to help with the conservation of priceless works of art have received over GBP600,000 of funding to help with their research.
The team at Nottingham Trent University will use the money to develop a new generation of technology, which it is hoped will become a tool for use by galleries and art conservators around the world.
The funding has been received from the Science and Heritage Programme of the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
Since 2004, Dr Haida Liang from the university's School of Science and Technology has led research into the application of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) for the non-invasive examination of paintings.
Originally developed as a medical imaging tool, OCT uses infrared light to penetrate biological tissue, which scatters the light back.
This scattered light is then detected by the device, allowing it to measure the distance it has travelled and produce a three-dimensional image of the inner structures of the tissue.
However, since realising the potential for OCT to be applied in the examination of works of art, Dr Liang and her team have spent the past six years pioneering various applications for work in art history, archaeology and art conservation.
In the case of paintings, the depth and distribution of paint and varnish layers, and even artist's preparatory drawings, can be made visible - all of which can help art conservators and curators to better understand their historical significance and what is required to preserve priceless artefacts.
Dr Liang and her team now hope that a variety of improvements can be made to the effectiveness of current OCT systems.
Using the grant from the AHRC and EPSRC, they will now turn their attention to developing an OCT system that uses a broader band and longer wavelength of light to improve the resolution and depth of penetration that can be achieved.
These improvements will allow OCT users to collect a level of detailed information that is currently only possible by physically removing samples from artefacts and examining them with a microscope.
It will also help to establish a reputation for OCT as a tool for non-invasive imaging in the heritage field, highlighting the benefits it has as an early-warning tool for detecting deterioration and problems for conservation.
In addition, an ongoing partnership with the National Gallery and a recently formed collaboration with English Heritage will allow the researchers to apply OCT to the examination of paintings, enamels, glass and ceramics.
