Medieval History

Ultraviolet light, that is. A group of restorers were able to uncover a new spectrum of color and detail within Bondone’s frescos. The aforementioned frescoes date from 1320 and can be found on the walls of the Peruzzi Chapel in Florence’s Santa Croce church.

Giotto di Bondone was born circa 1267 and died in 1337. An architect and painter who flourished in Florence during the late Middle Ages, he is considered to be one of the first of many gifted artists who contributed to the Italian Renaissance. The Peruzzi Chapel was significantly renowned during the Renaissance and was a favorite of Michelangelo.

“The researchers stumbled on the ultraviolet technique by accident, after spending four months mapping the frescoes as preparation for a possible future restoration. In the course of the project, they found that by shining ultraviolet light on the paintings they were able to see much more than was visible to the naked eye.”

Viewed under ultraviolet light, we are actually able to see what these paintings originally looked like. Unfortunately for us, exposing the paintings to too much ultraviolet light will cause additional harm to the already badly damaged paintings. I guess that’s what happens when, as in the 19th century, whitewash and wool scrubbers are used to “restore” 700-year-old paintings.

Original Article.