The Art of Everyday Objects: A Non-Invasive In Situ Investigation of Materials and Techniques of Italian Pop Art Paintings on Aluminium

Two paintings, made on aluminium support by Silvio Pasotti (among the major exponents of 1960s Italian pop art) were investigated in a totally non-invasive manner to identify materials used artist. Raman spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), visible reflectance and spectrofluorimetry with excitation exploited as molecular analysis techniques, which are particularly suitable recognise also synthetic organic materials, such pigments binders. The effectiveness this multi-analytical approach was demonstrated, leading identification several pigments, both conventional “special effect” ones, introduced during first half 20th century, well some well-established inorganic ones. Combining FTIR results medium near IR ranges, considerations regarding binders employed artist could be made, suggesting use nitrocellulose acrylic paints. Imaging reflectography, false colour IR, UV induced fluorescence, portable microscopy, achieve better knowledge painting practice.