Public Funding for Exaar Limited

Imaging of artwork is an important aspect of art conservation, technical art history, and art authentication. Many forms of near-infrared (NIR) imaging are currently used by conservators, archeologists, forensic scientists and technical art historians to examine the under-drawings of paintings, to detect damage and restorations, to enhance faded or over-painted inscriptions, to study artists’ techniques, to examine questioned documents, and as a non-destructive analytical tool for identifying certain pigments. We propose using an infrared optical parametric oscillator (a very broadly tunable source of mid-infrared light with exceptional spectral purity) to explore oil, acrylic and water colour paintings, specifically to realise an automated system than can scan in an artwork and detrmine its authenticity. Once proven in this challenging application, the technology we will develop will find utility in a range of diverse, impactful and timely end use applications in the wider fields of imaging for security, chemical sensing and environmental monitoring.