In 2018, the Center For Art Technological Studies And Conservation (CATS) at The National Gallery of Denmark (SMK) conducted research involving two of Pieter Bruegel, The Elder’s masterpieces: The Strife Of Lent and Winter Scenery, as part of a conservation project.
The equipment used was a Phase One XF IQ3 100MP Camera System and a set of special filters and Ultraviolet (UV), Infrared (IR) and visible (VIS) LED lights. The kit was designed to deliver a stack of images according to the Charisma Guidelines that allows for analysis of different components of the paintings:
- Visible light: provides what the human eye is used to seeing, and is the reference for all images and documentation
- Raking light: shows paint application, detailed brush strokes and surface structure
- UV reflected (UV-R): analysis of pigment distribution and surface phenomenon
- UV False color: analysis of pigment distribution and surface phenomenon
- UV Fluorescence (UV-F): analysis of surface phenomenon, varnish layers and retouching or previous conservation work
- IR Reflective (IRR): analysis of under-drawing, signature, retouching and pigment distribution
- IR False color: for pigment distribution