As a result of a Japanese research institute investigating the "last supper" drawn by Leonard Da Vinci using electromagnetic waves, it was scientifically confirmed for the first time that it was drawn by a technique called "tempera painting", and it was investigated. Researchers point out that "it is also an important achievement in considering how to restore and preserve the work."
The Last Supper, left in Milan, Italy, is a huge mural painted by Renaissance master Leonardo da Vinci over 500 years ago, depicting Christ eating with 12 disciples. ..
Kaoru Fukunaga, director of the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, who received a request from the "Last Supper Museum" that manages the work, applies electromagnetic "terahertz waves" to four places such as the face of Christ and analyzes the background of the painting. did.
As a result, it was found that there was a thin layer of plaster formed just below the painting, and that the plaster was evenly applied to a depth of about 2 mm below it.
"The Last Supper" is not a traditional "fresco" that paints before the wall dries, based on an analysis of wall fragments that was done over 20 years ago, but paint on a thin, dry base. It is believed that it was painted using the technique of "tempera painting".
By confirming the thin background this time, this estimation became the first scientifically supported form, and it is thought that DaVinci drew a fine picture with a tempera picture that can be overpainted over time compared to frescoes. That is.
Mr. Fukunaga said, "DaVinci is an experimental shop and the technique differs depending on the painting. It is a very important result when considering how to restore and preserve the work."
Research and restoration of cultural properties is possible without damaging the work
Terahertz waves are electromagnetic waves with a longer wavelength than infrared rays, and by capturing the reflection of the irradiated waves, it is possible to investigate what kind of layer there is from the surface to a depth of several millimeters.
Kaoru Fukunaga, director of the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, used it for the first time in the world in 2008 to investigate cultural properties, and since it is possible to understand the state of the background of the painting without damaging the work, it is useful for research and restoration of cultural properties. I will.
The first thing I investigated was Giotto's "Altarpiece of the Badia Family" at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy, which proved to be the beginning of the Renaissance in the history of art by clarifying the technique of the groundwork.
Since then, we have received survey requests from all over the world, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the United States is also conducting surveys on mummies.
Hasegawa, who brought frescoes to Japan for the first time last year, in addition to investigating the national treasure "Cypress Trees" at the Tokyo National Museum and revealing that the puller of the bran had been repaired many times. We are investigating the works of Michika.