RESEARCH AREAS

Material characterization of cultural heritage objects

The research is focused on the material characterization of artworks and it includes two main lines and one synthetic approach:

 

Development of specific instruments and procedures for the analysis of cultural heritage objects.
Remote Mid- infrared spectroscopy, Laser Ablation coupled to ICP/MS, Integrated molecular and atomic remote spectroscopic systems (XRF-UV/VIS/NIR)), Chromatographic technics (LC.MS/MS). Dating methods.

 

Development of specific studies related to issues of interest in the field of cultural heritage objects: painting, manuscripts, and sculptures.
Painting characterization, study of degradation processes. Conservation treatments for degraded manuscripts, Illuminated manuscripts studies, Restoration treatments studies.
Ethnological objects studies. Metal.lic sculptures analysis.

 

Holistic integration of the material characteristics of composition and form of heritage objects and their cultural representativeness: Artomics.

 

The group collaborated with several National and International Museums and Institutions to carry on the different studies.

PUBLICATIONS

Papers

PAPERS

2020 to present
2015 to 2019
2010 to 2014
BEFORE

2020 to present

  • Artomics: A holistic approach to the study of artworks integrating their compositional and formal characteristics. Application on the Liber Feudorum Maior
    Magkanas, G.; Bagán, H.; Sistach, M.C.; García, J.F.
    Microchemical Journal, 185-art.number 108276 (2022). ISSN 0026-265X.
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.microc.2022.108276
  • Capability of Far-Infrared for the selective identification of red and black pigments in paint layers.
    Giménez, P.; Linares, A.; Sessa, C.; Bagán, H. García, J.F.
    Spectrochimica Acta Part A-Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy, 266. Art. Number 120411 (2022).
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.saa.2021.120411
  • Illuminated manuscript analysis methodology using MA-XRF and NMF: Application on the Liber Feudorum Maior
    Magkanas, G.; Bagán, H.; Sistach, M.C.; García, J.F. 2021. 900724 – Microchemical Journal. Elsevier B.V.. 165-(2021).
    Art. Number 106112.
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.microc.2021.106112
  • Material characterization and functional implications of a Claude Laurent glass flute.
    H. Bagán, G. Magkanas, M. Gascón, J.F. García.
    Microchemical Journal, 155, June (2020).
    https://doi.10.1016/j.microc.2020.104734

2015 to 2019

  • Active teaching strategies for introducing radioanalytical techniques in analytical chemistry master degree: 40K determination in Bananas
    Bagán, H.; Serra, S.; Tent, J.; Tarancón, A.; Garcia, J.F.
    Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry 322, p.1905-1914 (2019)

  • The sixteenth century panel Virgin with the Child and an Angel, confluences of material characterization and iconography.
    Marín, E.; García, J.F.
    Journal of Cultural Heritage 29, 180-167 (2018)

  • Els origens de l’exposició ‘L’art catalan du Xè siècle o XVè siècle’ París, 1937.
    Miquel, A.; García, J.F.; Alcalde, G.
    Revista de Catalunya, 299, p.125-135 (2017)

  • Evaluation of Alkaline Compounds Used for Deacidification and Simultaneous Lining of Extremely Degraded Manuscripts
    Sistach, M.C.; Marin E.; Garcia, J.F.
    Restaurator-International J. for The Preservation of Library and Archi 38, 3, p.249-272 (2017)

  • Effects of variability sources on analysis of the composition of large ancient metal objects
    Sessa C., Bagán H., M. Romera M.T., García, J.F.
    Microchemical Journal 134, p.309-316 (2017)

  • Investigation of the possible origins of sulfur in 19th century salted paper photographs by x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy
    Sessa, C.; Barro, L.; Centeno, S. A.; Bagán, H.; Carò, F.; García, J. F.;
    X-Ray Spectrometry 45, 3, p. 176 -184 (2016)

  • Calcium hydroxide nanoparticles in hydroalcoholic gelatin solutions (GeolNan) for the deacidification and strengthening of papers containing iron gall ink.
    Poggi, G.; Sistach, M.C.; Marín, E.; García, J.F.; Giorgi, R.; Baglioni.
    Journal of Cultural Heritage 18, p.250-257 (2016).

  • Analysis of 210Pb in water samples with plastic scintillation resins.
    Lluch, E.; Barrera, J.; Tarancón, A.; Bagán, H.; García, J. F.
    Analytica Chimica Acta 940 p. 38 -45 (2016).

  • Distribution of acidity and alkalinity on degraded manuscripts containing iron gall ink.
    Marín, E.; Sistach, M.C.; Jiménez, J.; Clemente, M.; Garcia, G.; García, J.F.
    Restaurator-International Journal for The Preservation of Library and Archi 36, 3, p.229 -247 (2015).

  • A Study of Picasso’s painting materials and techniques in six of his Early portraits
    Sessa, C., Jiménez de Garnica R, Rosi, F., Fontana R., Garcia, J.F
    Journal of the American Institute for Conservation 55, p.198 – 216 (2016)

  • Characterization of paintings by Laser Ablation- Inductively Coupled Plasma- Mass Spectrometry
    Marin,E.; Padro, A.; Miquel,A. and Garcia J.F.
    Analytical Letters 48, p.178-190 (2015)

  • Plastic scintillators and related analytical procedures for radionuclide analysis
    Tarancón, A.; Bagán, H.; García, J. F.
    Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry 314, 2, p.555-572 (2017)

2010 to 2014

  • Influence of Composition and roughness on the pigment mapping of paintings using mid-infrared fiberoptics reflectance.
    Sessa, C.; Bagán, H.; Garcia, J.F.
    Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry (2014)
    https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-014-8091-2

  • Evaluation of MidIR fibre optic reflectance: detection limit, reproducibility and binary mixture discrimination.
    Sessa C.; Bagán, H.; García, J.F.
    Spectrochimica Acta Part A-Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy, 115 , p. 617 – 628 (2013).

  • Analyzing chemical composition of red pigments and printing inks to characterize and discriminate among modern artistic prints.
    Vila, A.; Ferrer, N.; García, J.F.
    Analytical Letters 45, 10, p1274-1285 (2012).

  • Determination of detection limits for SEM-EDS and m-FTIR analysis of artwork
    Sessa, C.; Vila A.; Garcia, J.F.
    Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 400, 7, p. 2241 – 2251 (2011)

  • Characterization of Artists’ papers: a step towards their differentiation.
    Vila, A; Ferrer, N.; Garcia, J.F.
    Restaurator-International Journal for The Preservation of Library and Archi 31, p.142 – 160 (2010)doi.org

BEFORE

  • Chemical composition of contemporary black printing inks based on infrared spectroscopy: basic information for the characterization and discrimination of artistic prints.
    Vila, A.; Ferrer, N.; Garcia, J.F.
    Analytica Chimica Acta, 591 p. 97 – 105 (2007).

  • A non-destructive characterization of stratigraphies in contemporary prints using Micro-Raman Spectroscopy.
    Vila, A.; Jawhari, T.; Garcia, J.F.
    Journal of Raman Spectroscopy 38,10, p.1267 – 1273 (2007).

  • Colored inks analysis and differentiation: a first step in artistic contemporary prints discrimination.
    Vila, A; Ferrer, N.; Garcia, J.F.
    Analytica Chimica Acta, 588, p. 98 – 107 (2007).

  • Development of a fast and non destructive procedure characterizing and distinguishing original from fake euro notes.
    Vila, A.; Ferrer, N.; Mantecón, J.; Bretón, D.; Garcia, J.F.
    Analytica Chimica Acta 559, p.257 – 263 (2006).

  • Identification of inks and structural characterization of contemporary artistic prints by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy.
    Oujja, M.; Vila, A.; Rebollar, E.; Garcia, J.F.; Castillejo, M.
    Spectrochimica Acta Part B-Atomic Spectroscopy 60, p 1140-1148 (2005)

  • Dating of basal Aurignacian at Abric Romani (Catalunya, Spain) by Radiocarbon and Uranium-Series.
    Bischoff, J.L.; Ludwing, K.R.; García, J.F.; Carbonell, E.; Vaquero, M.; Stafford, T.W.; Jull, A.J.T Journal ofArchaeological Science. 21, pp. 541 – 551 (1994).

  • Uranium-series isochron dating at El Castillo Cave (Cantabria, Spain): the Acheulean/ Mousterian question.
    Bischoff, J.L.; García, J.F.; Strauss, L.G.
    Journal of Archaeological Science. 19, pp. 49 – 62 (1992).

  • Radiocarbon dating: A didactic videotape.
    Rauret, G.; Mestres, J.S.; García, J.F.
    Radiocarbon. 34 – 3, pp. 937 (1992).

  • Comparing continental carbonates with other materials in dating a Paleolake.
    García, J.F.; Mestres, J.S.; Rauret, G.
    Radiocarbon. 34 – 3, pp. 619 – 625. (1992).

  • The radiocarbon laboratory at the University of Barcelona.
    Mestres, J.S.; García, J.F.; Rauret, G.R
    Radiocarbon. 33 -41, pp. 23 – 34. (1991).

  • University of Barcelona. Radiocarbon dates I.
    Mestres, J.S.; Rauret, G.; García, J.F.
    Radiocarbon. 33 – 3, pp. 335 – 365. (1991).

Scroll to Top