Translating Science: Making Mass Spectroscopy Accessible in Cultural Institutions - Livestream

Analyzing organic materials in artworks has long been associated with destructive techniques, which can be a major limitation when working with delicate or historically important objects. Recent developments, in both instruments and sampling strategies, have opened the door to approaches that require little to no intervention on the object itself. In this talk, I will share our experience implementing a very sensitive sampling method that brings together collection and concentration of volatiles emitted by art objects. This has proven especially useful as a screening tool when taking a physical sample simply is not an option.

We tested instrumentation developed for other research fields, such as environmental research or clinical studies, for the first time and compared their performance with more established alternatives in the museum laboratories. The methods have performed remarkably well in

identifying volatile compounds in enclosed spaces at the Rijksmuseum, and it has allowed us to look at the molecular profile emitted from the back of canvas paintings as part of condition monitoring.  Finally, we worked toward automating part of the workflow, offering a more efficient and consistent alternative to lengthy passive sampling approaches.

Speaker: Alba Alvarez Martin, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, NL

Register at weblink