Grounds Database
A generous grant from The Samuel H. Kress Foundation for the project "The digitization of cross-sections from Italian and Dutch paintings" at The National Gallery of Denmark (SMK) has enabled digitization and analyses of cross-sections from a total of 158 Italian 14th to 17th C. and 17th C. Dutch paintings from the SMK collection to be made available in this open access art and technology research database on ground layers. With samples from the collections of Nationalmuseum Stockholm and Museum of National History, Frederiksborg Castle in Hillerød the database includes an additional 11 paintings.
Making this material digitally available will offer researchers a multitude of opportunities to carry out comparative studies between artists and schools of painters from different geographical areas. The mobility and interaction between artists have influenced their working habits, something that upon thorough mapping may assist us in understanding the development of trends and renewed approaches in painting practices across Europe.
Making this material digitally available will offer researchers a multitude of opportunities to carry out comparative studies between artists and schools of painters from different geographical areas. The mobility and interaction between artists have influenced their working habits, something that upon thorough mapping may assist us in understanding the development of trends and renewed approaches in painting practices across Europe.
Database of preparation layers in 14th to 17th Century Italian and 17th Century Dutch Paintings from the collection of the National Gallery of Denmark (SMK)
The database currently contains 382 cross-sections from 169 paintings. All of these cross-sections have been photographed according to a standardized protocol in order to ensure direct comparison between sample images. The protocol can be accessed here. All samples included in the database have been analysed by means of SEM-EDX and the main components that were identified in the ground layers are listed in relation to the individual samples.
The database allows for the application of search filters such as artist, collection, support, composition and colour of ground layer.
The database allows for the application of search filters such as artist, collection, support, composition and colour of ground layer.
A collaborative research resource
The idea of digitizing these cross-sections originated from the now terminated research network MoCMa: Mobility Creates Masters comprising of a number of European Universities and museums/galleries in The Netherlands, Sweden, Spain, United Kingdom, and Denmark. The aim of this network was to share knowledge, experience and results among the participating institutions while investigating materials, the background for, and the impact of the coloured ground layers in paintings across Europe from the Early Modern Period.
The development of this open access database, to store and display the many cross-sections, has relied entirely on the digital skills and expertise of the Scientific Department of the National Gallery London, who have been in charge of designing and building the platform. The technical work was originally funded by the EU Horizon 2020 IPERION-CH project, and is described in one of the project deliverables. Since the completion of IPERION-CH further development, and exploitation of this work has been carried out with the support of the EU Horizon 2020 projects IPERION-HS and SSHOC.
The development of this open access database, to store and display the many cross-sections, has relied entirely on the digital skills and expertise of the Scientific Department of the National Gallery London, who have been in charge of designing and building the platform. The technical work was originally funded by the EU Horizon 2020 IPERION-CH project, and is described in one of the project deliverables. Since the completion of IPERION-CH further development, and exploitation of this work has been carried out with the support of the EU Horizon 2020 projects IPERION-HS and SSHOC.