Micro Raman

Background: This study concerns the application of non-invasive and micro-invasive analyses for the study of a
contemporary artwork entitled La Caverna dell’Antimateria (“The Cave of Antimatter”) which was created by Pinot
Gallizio in 1958–1959. The work represents one of the most significant examples of industrial painting. It consists of
a total of 145 meters of painted canvas, designed in order to cover the entire floor plan of the René Drouin gallery
in Paris, where it was displayed for the first time. Gallizio wanted to create an environment in which visitors could
find themselves immersed in painting, in what he termed as a “work-environment”.
Non-invasive (Fibre Optic Reflectance Spectroscopy) and micro-invasive analyses (Fourier Transform Infrared and
micro-Raman Spectroscopies, Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography and Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry) were
performed on three of the canvases which constitute this work of art in order to obtain information regarding the
artistic materials used by Gallizio.
Results: Pigments and unconventional materials (such as metal wires, sand) are present in the canvases that form
the ceiling. The colours are unevenly distributed on the surface, thus revealing large areas of the white preparation
below. In the canvas of the wall, instead, the paint is applied more uniformly and gives a dark colour cast. The
analytical results led to the identification of many of the materials used by Gallizio. The pictorial palette consists of
both inorganic and organic pigments, while polyvinylacetate, pure or mixed with a siccative oil, was identified as a
binder thus confirming what was reported by the artist in his notes.
Conclusions: The results of this research provide information concerning the artistic technique used by Pinot
Gallizio. The analyses were successfully performed both in situ and on micro

Background: This study concerns the application of non-invasive and micro-invasive analyses for the study of a contemporary artwork entitled La Caverna dell'Antimateria ("The Cave of Antimatter") which was created by Pinot Gallizio in 1958Gallizio in -1959. The work represents one of the most significant examples of industrial painting. It consists of a total of 145 meters of painted canvas, designed in order to cover the entire floor plan of the René Drouin gallery in Paris, where it was displayed for the first time. Gallizio wanted to create an environment in which visitors could find themselves immersed in painting, in what he termed as a "work-environment". Non-invasive (Fibre Optic Reflectance Spectroscopy) and micro-invasive analyses (Fourier Transform Infrared and micro-Raman Spectroscopies, Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography and Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry) were performed on three of the canvases which constitute this work of art in order to obtain information regarding the artistic materials used by Gallizio.