A spectral imaging examination of cultural artifacts: study of three historical artifacts from Great museum of Khorasan

Reflection and fluorescent imaging techniques play a very important role in conservation of cultural heritage. Visible images are the best tool to register and inspect an art work in the absence of it. Nowadays modern digital camera facilitate this process. Additionally, ultraviolet (UV) images are a good tool to analyse painting surface layer and investigate the conservation state of objects. Also, UV florescent reveals information about chemical nature of varnish, pigments, restoration treatment and retouches. This technique is fast, inexpensive and in-situ. In current paper, we investigated the potential of ultra-violet fluorescence and visible reflectance technique to investigate the current conservation state of an oil painting and two manuscripts. The apparent characteristics of the work were examined and recorded by image of Visible light and image of fluorescence. The Florence image has patched up areas that have lost their color or identified areas that had been restored, so the Florence image, in the absence of a history of the effect, gives a clear picture of the condition of the previous restoration and the damage done to the painting. Also, in examining a historical-cultural version, it was possible to identify the areas that had been biologically attacked. Examination of another manuscript with ultraviolet fluorescence radiation showed that the red color used in the prescription is probably a discolored pigment.