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AP°YPO¶OY§OY TELOS 30-01-08 11:01 ™ÂÏ›‰·40

X-ray Investigation of Goya’s Engraving Plates:


Identification of conservation state and engraving techniques
M. Lage1, A. Bautista1, J.C. Suárez2, J. Espona2, F. Velasco1
1
Materials Science and Engineering Department, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Leganés,
Madrid, Spain
2
Escuela de Ingenieros Navales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
UNIVERSIDAD CARLOS III DE MADRID
Avda. Universidad n° 30
Leganés, 28911 Madrid, SPAIN
Phone: (34) 91 624 88 63
Fax: (34) 91 624 94 30
mlage@ing.uc3m.es

In the presented study X-ray radiography was applied in order to obtain new data and to corroborate former
results concerning the history and the conservation state of three chalcographic plates, engraved by Francis-
co de Goya. This is the first time that copperplates, representatives from different series like "Disparates",
"Caprichos" and "Desastres de la Guerra", have been studied using this technique. The radiograms provide
information about the forming process of the copper bases, they offer interesting data about their conserva-
tion state and they corroborate the knowledge about the methods and techniques that Goya used during en-
graving. The technique has also demonstrated the absence of cracks or internal damages in the studied
plates.

Keywords X-ray, Engravings, Chalcographic plates, Goya

1. INTRODUCTION scanner. This device allowed them to evaluate the degree


of the damages present in the metal in numerical terms,
X-ray radiography is an examination technique that as well as the depth of the engraving drawings, through
consists of the irradiation of an object with X-rays and the calculation of the different radio opacities from the radi-
acquisition of the radiation for example with a radi- ograms [4].
ographic plate located behind the object under study. One of the most important treasures of the Spanish
Different absorption in different regions of the object, and universal art of engraving is constituted by the series
depending on the particular materials the object is com- of copperplates engraved by Francisco de Goya
posed of or on variation of thickness, acts as an informa- (Zaragoza, 1746, Bordeaux, 1828).
tion source [1]. This type of analysis has been widely used Apart from the natural aging of the material since its
in the restoration of archaeological and sculpture objects. creation, the environmental conditions, the trips, trans-
Since the beginning of the 20th century, it has been ap- fers, a lot of prints and different experiences have pro-
plied to other works of arts, as paintings and metal arti- duced some deterioration.
facts [2]. The collection located in Madrid comprises 228 en-
This technique completes the artifacts characteriza- graved plates, which were originally of bare copper. At
tion, it can help to determine their legitimacy and it com- this moment, all of them show galvanic coatings, applied
pletes the studies and diagnosis of the restorer. X-ray ra- during the 19th and 20th centuries. These coatings were
diography makes possible the observation of underdraw- applied in order to extend the usability of the plates, in
ing, pentimentos, corrections or changes that the artists terms of producing more prints. Sometimes, it was also
made in their work, or the later interventions [3].. thought that the coatings would make the plates more
In the Diagnosis Laboratory of the Istituto Nazionale corrosion resistant. However, this important collection
per la Gráfica (Italy) X-ray radiography was applied for presents diverse types of damage caused by the intensity
the first time in a study of chalcographic plates. The of the corrosion. 73% of the engraving plates present
study was focused on the identification and documenta- some kind of corrosion damages [5]. Figure 1 details the
tion of structural damages in copperplates that were not conservation state of Goya’s plates related to their en-
possible to detect visually, like cracks or internal dam- graving series.
ages. The X-ray radiograms were analyzed later with in-
novative specific software connected to a high resolution
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AP°YPO¶OY§OY TELOS 30-01-08 11:01 ™ÂÏ›‰·41

X-Ray Investigation of Goya’s Engraving Plates

3. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

Radiographies of the copperplates were obtained us-


ing an ERESCO 42 MF2 equipment. The selected work-
ing parameters were a voltage of 74 kV, a current of 2 mA
and a focus film distance of 620 mm. The exposure time
changed depending on the studied plate: Desastre 7 was
radiographied for 12 min, Disparate 4 for 9 min and
Capricho 37 for 8 min. The size of the radiographic film
used for this study was 24 x 10 cm.
Figure 1 - Conservation state of complete series
of Goya copper engravings plates. 4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Due to the importance of the plates of Goya and their The study of chalcographic plates with X-ray radiog-
conservation state, at the moment, all the scientific and raphy allows to obtain images as those shown in figure 2,
technological resources must be available, first, to charac- where many interesting details, besides the engraving of
terize the damage, and later, to plan a suitable conserva- the plate, can be observed. In this work, the information
tion strategy of that special collection on the basis of sci- obtained from the three studied Goya’s plates using this
entific examination. technique is summarized.
The present radiographic study was performed in or-
der to identify and to register different items, such as
artistic technique of the engraving, damages that can not
be detected by other techniques in terms of fissures or
cracks, weldings, metal inserts, detachings of the metal
layers or differences of thickness. Three copperplates
were selected for this study according to their conserva-
tion state.

2. CATALOGUE OF STUDIED COPPERPLATES

1. Title: Bobalicón, belonging to Disparates series, num-


ber 4.
Catalogue number: 3.976
Date: 1815-24
Techniques of engraving: Etching, aquatint and dry Figure 2 - Complete X-ray image from Disparate
point number 4, called "Bobalicón".
Measurements: 247 x 359 mm
Weight: 1.278,30 g 4.1 Information regarding the copper base
X-ray radiography technique is very sensitive to dif-
2. Title: Si sabrá más el discípulo, belonging to Capri- ferences in the thickness of the plates. This is found in the
chos series, number 37. radiographies in the places where the hammering of the
Catalogue number: 3.807 copper was not carried out in a very careful way. In figure
Date: 1797-99 3, it can be observed the marks left by the hammer in the
Techniques of engraving: Etching, aquatint burnished Desastre de la Guerra 7, confirming the fact that, for the
and metal chisel manufacturing of this series of plates, engraved during
Measurements: 218 x 153 mm the Spanish Independence War, Goya had problems to
Weight: 377,62 g obtain suitable copperplates. The effect of the hammer-
ing cannot be observed in the other two studied plates,
3. Title: Qué valor! Belongs to Desastres de la Guerra but the radiographies inform that the thickness of the
series, number 7. Capricho 37 is irregular, while Disparate 4 has uniform
Catalogue number: 3.857 thickness. The upper-right region of the radiography of
Date: 1810-1814 the Capricho 37 is much darker than the lower-left side,
Technique of engraving: Etching, aquatint, dry point, because the first region is slightly thinner than the sec-
burin and burnished. ond, and the radio-opacity of the materials increases ex-
Measurements: 158 x 209 mm. ponentially with their thickness. The uniformity of the
Weight: 505,93 g [6]. plate used to engrave Disparate 4 is related with the use
of plates prepared in England, especially to be engraved
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M. Lage et al.

(the stamp on the backside confirms its origin). The dif- 37, one of them appears incrusted very close to the sur-
ferences in the quality of the forming process are unable face (figure 5d), and it has been identified as a metallic
to be detected in the different studied plates without us- particle.
ing X-ray. The presence of pores and metallic inclusions in the
copper is very important both from the mechanical point
of view as well as for the corrosion behaviour.
The pores and inclusions favour the onset of cracks
when the pieces are under mechanical stresses. The pores
also favour concentration cells that promote corrosion,
and the presence of inclusions of materials different from
copper on the surface can favour galvanic corrosion.
Moreover, the presence of defects on the copper surface
should be borne in mind when restoration and cleaning
processes of the copper of the plates are considered. An-
cient coppers, with more pores than modern copper, are
less corrosion resistant, and hence, chemical cleaning
procedures adequate for modern copper can be too ag-
Figure 3 - Complete X-ray image from Desastre number 7, gressive for plates with pores and inclusions [7].
where the marks of the hammering can be observed.

Figure 4 - This X-ray shows a detail of "Bobalicón"


with one pore in the metal (inside white circle).
Figure 5 - Details of contaminant particles in studied cop-
X-rays have detected pores in the metal base. In fig- perplates. (a) Bright lead particle. (b) Contaminant parti-
ure 4, one of the black spots that have been identified as cles with higher density than copper. (c) Contaminant
pores can be seen. Moreover, particles of other metals particles with lower density than copper. (d) Metallic par-
and compounds have been detected contaminating the ticle close to surface.
copper. Round, bright spots (figure 5a) observed in radi-
ographies probably correspond to the lead from the sup- 4.2 Information regarding the engraving techniques
port where the plate was placed during hammering, and The engraving techniques can be usually deduced
that contaminated the copper during the forming process from a careful direct observation of the plates, but the X-
of the plate. Lead contaminations appear in all the stud- ray radiography studies can give interesting complemen-
ied plates. Other type of contaminant particles that prob- tary information. The different grey tones of the radiog-
ably correspond to metals of higher radio-opacity than raphy correspond to the chiaroscuro that would be
copper (that is to say, higher density) has also been de- achieved in the prints. For instance, the head under the
tected in Disparate 4 (figure 5b). However, most of the right arm of the main figure of the Disparate 4 plate (usu-
spots of the plates correspond to contaminant by ele- ally named the "Bobalicón") shows lighter tone (figure 6)
ments or compounds of lower density than copper (figure because is thicker. This confirms that the head was made
5c). The contaminants are usually under the surface of by biting with acid the entire surrounding surface, except
the plates, so they can not be identified, but, in Capricho this zone. In some isolated regions of the background of
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AP°YPO¶OY§OY TELOS 30-01-08 11:01 ™ÂÏ›‰·43

X-Ray Investigation of Goya’s Engraving Plates

the Disparate 4, that was engraved with aquatint, the X- radiographies as those shown in figure 5c can be caused
ray informs that the engrave was reinforced with a dotted by the presence of corrosion products (that always has
bit (figure 7) realized probably with an acid added over a lower density than copper) under the galvanic coating.
non-cured varnish. No inner crack or physical defect that can suppose a
serious threat for their physical integrity has been detect-
ed in any of the three studied plates.

Figure 6 - X-ray detail of "Bobalicón", the head made


biting with acid all the surrounding surface.

Figure 8 - Detail of Bobalicón. (a) Copperplate that


shows the loss of coating under the nose. (b) X-ray detail.

The serious damages found in the reverse of the


plates (because its conservation has not been as careful as
the engraved side) also appear on the radiographies (fig-
ure 9). These damages appear on all the studied plates
with intensity enough to be clearly detected by X-ray radi-
ography. The depth of the defects, which sometimes is
difficult to estimate visually, is proportional to the dark-
ness of its spot in the radiography.
Figure 7 - X-ray detail of "Bobalicón" showing a dotted bit A special type of damage that has its origin in the re-
(white ellipse) realized probably with an acid added over verse of the plates, but that is intense enough to affect the
a non-cured varnish. face, is the deformation caused by aged engraving inks.
Rests of ink left in the reverse of the plates become hard
4.3 Information regarding the conservation state during aging. When the plate passes through the etching
press, they cause an elevation that affects the face of the
X-ray radiographies are not enough sensitive to de- plate (figure 10a). X-ray informs that the rests of ink do
tect thickness differences as small as those caused by the not only cause the elevation of a region of the plate, but
local loss of galvanic coating that often exhibit the Goya’s they also affect the thickness of that region. The ink dam-
plates. ages coincide in the radiography with white spots (figure
Galvanic coatings usually have a thickness about 10b) of different intensity, what means that a reduction of
some micrometers [8]. Comparing figures 8a and 8b, it thickness in these areas has occurred.
can be seen that X-ray does not detect the loss of coating
under the nose of the Bobalicón. However, spots on the
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AP°YPO¶OY§OY TELOS 30-01-08 11:01 ™ÂÏ›‰·44

M. Lage et al.

ñ Presence of corrosion products under the galvanic


coatings or inclusions of particles of compounds
or elements with lower density than copper.
ñ Intensity and uniformity of the hammering of the
copper.
ñ Depth of the physical damages that appear on the
backside of the plates.
ñ Localized loss of thickness due to the presence of
rests of ink in the reverse of the plates during the
printing process.
ñ Complementary information about the engraving
techniques used.

ñ X-rays have demonstrated the absence in the studied


plates of:
ñ Cracks inside the material.
ñ Corrosion depth on their surface with a meaning-
ful magnitude.

ñ X-rays are not sensitive enough to detect very small


changes in the thickness of the plates (about some
mm) as those caused by partial detachment of the gal-
vanic coatings.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors would like to acknowledge the National


Chalcography of Spain, especially to Ms. Carmen Corral,
for the support given to this research. They also want to
thank to the technical department of the Prado Museum
for the scanning of the radiographies and R+D Project
Figure 9 - The serious damages in the reverse of the plate (JCI 2005-1892-5) Ministry of Education and Science,
appear in the Capricho 37 radiography. Spain.

REFERENCES

[1] Finandi, Gabriele and Garrido, Carmen, El trazo


oculto, dibujos subyacentes en pinturas de los siglos
XV y XVI. (Ed.) Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid,
(2006).
[2] González, C. Restauración y conservación: uso de
rayos X, in "Actas del Coloquio: Rayos X y otras
Técnicas Físicas en Arte, Arqueología e Historia"
(Ed) Sociedad mexicana de cristalografía, México D
Figure 10 - Deformation caused by rest of age engraving F, (2006).
inks (a) photographical image of the front side [3] Gabaldón, Araceli, Antelo, Tomás and Vega, Car-
of the plate (b) X-ray image. men "Técnica radiográfica aplicada al estudio de la
pintura contemporánea" in "Actas de la VI reunión
5. CONCLUSIONS del Grupo de Arte Contemporáneo del GIIC",(Ed.)
Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Minis-
The main conclusions that can be drawn from the re- terio de Cultura, Madrid (2005).
sults presented in this work are: [4] Trassari, G. "La nueva cultura de las matrices y la
ñ X-ray has allowed to detect the following phenomena puesta en marcha del estudio sistemático para la
in the three studied Goya’s plates: conservación de las planchas calcográficas" in "Cien-
ñ Inner pores. cia y Tecnología para la Conservación de Matrices
ñ Contamination by metallic particles (many of de Grabado Calcográfico", (Ed.) Fundación BBVA,
them probably of lead). Madrid, pp. 125-134 (2005).
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AP°YPO¶OY§OY TELOS 30-01-08 11:01 ™ÂÏ›‰·45

X-Ray Investigation of Goya’s Engraving Plates

[5] Lage, M. Goya Ciencia y tecnología para la conser- [7] Otero, E. Las planchas calcográficas de los siglos
vación de sus matrices de grabado calcográfico in XVIII y XIX en España. Un intento para su conser-
"Ciencia y Tecnología para la Conservación de Ma- vación y restauración. (Ed.) Dirección Nacional de
trices de Grabado Calcográfico", (Ed) Fundación Investigación científica y Técnica. Madrid (1993).
BBVA, Madrid, pp. 143-166 (2005). [8] Bautista, A and Velasco, F. "La electrodeposición en
[6] Barrena, C, Blas, J., Carrete, J. and Medrano, J. M., las planchas calcográficas" in "Ciencia y Tecnología
Calcografía Nacional Catalogo General, (Ed.) Real para la Conservación de Matrices de Grabado. (Ed)
Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando, Fundación BBVA, Madrid, pp. 37-58 (2005).
Calcografía Nacional. Madrid (2004).

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