Costanza Cucci

Costanza Cucci
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Costanza verified their affiliation via an institutional email.
  • Dr.
  • Senior Researcher at Italian National Research Council

About

115
Publications
34,947
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1,988
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Introduction
My current research interests are mailny on: - Hyperspectral imaging and problems related to data-analysis, study of polychrome surfaces, pigments identification - Data processing using multivariate methods - Lighiting in museums
Current institution
Italian National Research Council
Current position
  • Senior Researcher
Additional affiliations
Italian National Research Council
Position
  • Researcher

Publications

Publications (115)
Conference Paper
Full-text available
This research explores the possibility of applying transmittance imaging spectroscopy to analyze cinematographic and photographic film materials to assess its potential and limitations. Reflectance or transmittance hyperspectral imaging (HSI) is an advanced technique that enables the capture of hundreds of images in contiguous narrow spectral bands...
Article
Full-text available
Much of the fascination surrounding Egyptian civilization is linked to the practice of mummification. In fact, to ensure the preservation of the body, the ancient Egyptians mummified both human and animal subjects. However, mummified animal remains are less well studied, although they represent a significant part of the material culture and history...
Article
Full-text available
This study provides new data which suggest a novel interpretative hypothesis not only on the specific painting, but on the use of bloodletting as medical practice in the Florentine Quattrocento. As a part of a cycle of frescoes devoted to the Seven Corporal Works of Mercy, the examined lunette depicts the “Visit to the sick” in a domestic interior,...
Book
Full-text available
Advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI), especially in Machine and in the Deep learning fields, present for the first time an opportunity to build tools to support archeologists to unveil the real complexity of some of the world’s most interesting and enigmatic challenges in archeology: the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs philology. However, the appl...
Article
Full-text available
The study aims at investigating the use of reflectance Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI) in the Visible (Vis) and Near Infrared (NIR) range in combination with Deep Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) to address the tasks related to ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs recognition. Recently, well-established CNN architectures trained to address segmentation of o...
Article
Full-text available
The Hebrew Scroll, catalogued as Magliabekian Manuscript III 43 and belonging to the National Central Library of Florence (BNCF), is a membranous richly decorated scroll, with colorful depictions of sacred sites through the Holy Land to Lebanon along with handwritten texts in Hebrew and notes in Italian. Despite the fact that the manuscript was ori...
Conference Paper
Research on Ancient Egyptian animal mummies has grown in significance over past decades thanks to the accessibility of new medical imaging technology. In particular, computed tomography (CT) has shown an important role, allowing to find out the secrets hidden underneath the bandages of the mummies. The aim of this paper is to show the importance of...
Preprint
Full-text available
This study provides new data which suggests a novel interpretative hypothesis not only on the specific painting, but on the use of bloodletting as medical practice in the Florentine Quattrocento. In addition, the technical solutions adopted to implement the measurements campaign are illustrated as an experimental model for remote sensing investigat...
Poster
Full-text available
he insiTUMlab is a new born analytical infrastructure for non-destructive in-situ studies of Cultural Heritage, part of the Chair of Conservation-Restoration, Art Technology and Conservation Science of the Technical University Munich (Prof. Dr. Thomas Danzl). It is funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) for the next five years and afterward...
Article
Full-text available
This work illustrates a novel prototype of a transmittance hyperspectral imaging (HSI) scanner, operating in the 400–900 nm range, and designed on purpose for non-invasive analysis of photographic materials, such as negatives, films and slides. The instrument provides high-quality spectral data and high-definition spectral images on targets of smal...
Article
Full-text available
The objective of this work is to show the application of a Deep Learning algorithm able to operate the segmentation of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs present in an image, with the ambition to be as versatile as possible despite the variability of the image source. The problem is quite complex, the main obstacles being the considerable amount of diffe...
Article
This work explores the potential of a compact hyperspectral camera, Specim IQ, for the remote colorimetric study of polychrome surfaces in controlled environments. These measurements are generally made with dedicated instruments, such as colorimeters or spectrophotometers, which require contact with the surface and coverage areas of the order of 10...
Chapter
Deep Learning is expanding in every domain of knowledge, allowing specialists to build tools to support their work in fields apparently unrelated to information technology. In this study, we exploit this opportunity by focusing on ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic texts and inscriptions. We investigate the ability of several convolutional neural networ...
Article
Full-text available
Fiber Optic Reflectance Spectroscopy (FORS) is a well-established technique for the study of traditional artworks. Nevertheless, its application for the analysis of modern and contemporary materials such as plastics is still a pioneering line of research. In this work, the application of FORS for the discoloration assessment of cultural heritage pl...
Article
Full-text available
Nowadays, advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI), especially in machine and deep learning, present new opportunities to build tools that support the work of specialists in areas apparently far from the information technology field. One example of such areas is that of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic writing. In this study, we explore the ability of...
Article
Full-text available
Scientific investigations of artworks are crucial in terms of preservation since they provide a measurable evaluation of the materials and the state of conservation. This is the case of Antonello da Messina’s painting “Ecce Homo”: its delicate state of conservation, with the need for constant monitoring, required a broad and in-depth diagnostic cam...
Chapter
Decades of technological advances in instrumental analysis have transformed many techniques from laboratory innovations to customary analytical tools with increasing applicability to the study of cultural heritage objects. X-ray-based techniques are among the most commonly used analytical tools in conservation science. The performances of portable...
Article
Full-text available
Fiber optics reflectance spectroscopy (FORS) and visible and near-infrared (VNIR) hyperspectral imaging (HSI) were applied to assess and control the laser cleaning process of a deeply darkened limestone surface collected from the historic entrance gate of Castello Svevo, Bari, Italy. Both techniques enabled us to verify the different degree of remo...
Article
Full-text available
Imaging Spectroscopic techniques, also known as hyperspectral imaging, have been utilized in museums and conservation laboratories for documentation purposes and in support of restoration treatments on different types of artworks and archaeological objects. For more than a decade, several studies and research projects have been devoted to customize...
Article
Full-text available
RGB digital cameras (RGB) compress the spectral information into a trichromatic system capable of approximately representing the actual colors of objects. Although RGB digital cameras follow the same compression philosophy as the human eye (OBS), the spectral sensitivity is different. To what extent they provide the same chromatic experiences is st...
Article
Full-text available
In recent years, THz imaging techniques have been used in several fields of application. At the beginning of the century, the low availability of powerful THz sources was one of the limiting factors to the advancement of THz technology. At the ENEA center in Frascati, two Free Electron Lasers (FELs) operating in the THz spectral region were availab...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
Reflectance spectroscopy is a well-established technique for the study of traditional artworks on parchment, paper, textiles, stained glass/windows, wall, canvas, and panel paintings. For the analysis of plastic heritage, its application is still a pioneering line of research. It poses new challenges due to the inherent complexity of plastics and a...
Presentation
Full-text available
Reflectance spectroscopy is a well-established technique for the study of traditional artworks on parchment, paper, textiles, stained glass/windows, wall, canvas, and panel paintings. For the analysis of plastic heritage, its application is still a pioneering line of research. It poses new challenges due to the inherent complexity of plastics and a...
Article
Hyper-Spectral Imaging (HSI) is nowadays a well-established technology in the field of Cultural Heritage (CH), being acknowledged as a highly effective tool for accomplishing both non-invasive diagnostics and documentation of different typologies of polychrome artworks. Until recently, in CH field HSI technique has been mainly applied for investiga...
Article
Full-text available
Imaging spectroscopy technique was introduced in the cultural heritage field in the 1990s, when a multi-spectral imaging system based on a Vidicon camera was used to identify and map pigments in paintings. Since then, with continuous improvements in imaging technology, the quality of spectroscopic information in the acquired imaging data has greatl...
Article
Full-text available
Electromagnetic imaging technologies, working at different frequencies, are widely exploited for noninvasive diagnostics since they allow an improvement of knowledge about the surveyed object without affecting its state of conservation. In this paper, imaging technologies, working from microwaves up to ultraviolet frequencies, are considered and th...
Article
The wall-painting Crocifissione by Beato Angelico in the convent of San Marco in Florence was subjected to a restoration campaign in 1970–1974. In that occasion the barium hydroxide method, a procedure properly designed for the restoration of sulphate polluted wall-paintings, was applied for the first time. After 40 years, a diagnostic campaign bas...
Article
Two panels by Marco d'Oggiono – a painter who was active at the end of the 15th century in Leonardo's workshop in Milan – were investigated by Macro X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and VNIR hyperspectral imaging. The paintings depict St. Francis and St. Anthony of Padua, each presenting a devotee, and are part of the permanent collection of the Pin...
Conference Paper
A new transportable apparatus for macro-X-ray fluorescence [1] and an innovative compact VNIR hyperspectral camera [2] were used to analyze selected areas of two panels by Marco D'Oggiono, who was mainly active in Milan (Italy) at the workshop of Leonardo da Vinci. These panels were part of a large polyptych, the so called "Polittico di Maleo", whi...
Article
Many collections of documents, manuscripts, and works of art on paper are prone to degradation due to a complex interplay of extrinsic and intrinsic factors. The aim of this study was to examine the simultaneous effect of multiple degradation agents on selected non-model types of paper in natural environments, and the relative effect of environment...
Poster
Full-text available
Two panels by Marco d'Oggiono – a painter who was active at the end of the 15th century in Leonardo's workshop in Milan – were investigated by Macro X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and VNIR hyperspectral imaging. The paintings depict St. Francis and St. Anthony of Padua, each presenting a devotee, and are part of the permanent collection of the Pin...
Article
Reflectance hyperspectral imaging provides a non-invasive tool for the diagnostics, analysis and documentation of paintings. It supplies high quality digital images with spectral information associated to each pixel of the imaged area. Working in the short-wave infrared range (1000–2500 nm) allows for the investigation of inner layers of paintings,...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
Marco D'Oggiono was mainly active at the Duchy of Milano (Italy) and worked at the workshop of Leonardo da Vinci, as documented by an autograph manuscript dated 1490 by Leonardo himself. The two panels considered here were originally part of a large polyptych, (the so called "Polittico di Maleo) consisting of ten panels painted for the Franciscan c...
Conference Paper
Nel settore dei beni culturali le tecniche di imaging, tra cui la radiografia X, la luce radente, la fluorescenza indotta da radiazione ultravioletta, l'infrarosso fotografico, quello riflettografico e l'infrarosso falso colore, sono comunemente impiegate per lo studio di manufatti artistici per seguire sia le fasi di documentazione che di diagnost...
Article
This paper presents the first study on Rodovetri, animation cels produced between the 1950s and the 1970s for the Italian television and conserved at the Museum of Industry and Labour “Musil” (Italy). Although these cels are considered as works of art and witnesses of Italian animation design, they have never been studied before. The study of one o...
Presentation
In the analysis of artworks, reflectance spectroscopy has already been accepted as a common technique by the conservation community due to its non-destructive nature and in situ application. When used as a preliminary investigation tool and complementary method to other micro-invasive/non-destructive techniques, reflectance spectroscopy can support...
Chapter
Full-text available
The Publication is following the yearly Editions of EVA FLORENCE. The State of Art is presented regarding the Application of Technologies (in particular of digital type) to Cultural Heritage. The more recent results of the Researches in the considered Area are presented. Information Technologies of interest for Culture Heritage are presented: multi...
Article
Full-text available
The side panels of the Franciscan Triptych (St. Jerome, St. John the Baptist, and the Archangel Gabriel and St. Francis, St. Onofrio, and the Virgin Annunciate, by Fra Angelico, before 1429) were scanned by means of terahertz time-domain imaging (THz-TDI). THz analysis supplied information on the stratigraphy of the panel paintings and the associat...
Article
Full-text available
In this paper, we report on Vis-IR hyperspectral and terahertz imaging investigations carried out on a fresco painting on tavella depicting St. John Baptist, by Alessandro Gherardini (1655–1726). Measurements took place at the Restoration Laboratories of the former “Polo Museale della Toscana,” in Florence, in the framework of the Italy-Japan colla...
Conference Paper
This paper illustrates some of the developments achieved in the field of non-contact analytical tools for two-dimensional polychrome artworks. It reports significant advantages within the application of hyperspectral imaging for high-quality documentation, accurate color reproduction, study of artists’ materials and techniques, and identification o...
Article
Full-text available
Water diffusion inside masonry is responsible for the majority of the decay phenomena observed in wall paintings and frescos. Thus, the diagnostics of moisture and water content and their monitoring represent a key issue. In order to preserve the integrity of surfaces of artistic interest, investigations by means of non-destructive techniques (NDT)...
Article
Full-text available
The potentials of the Terahertz Time-Domain Imaging (THz-TDI) technique for a non-invasive inspection of panel paintings have been considered in detail. The THz-TD data acquired on a replica of a panel painting made in imitation of Italian Renaissance panel paintings were processed in order to provide insights as to the limits and potentials of the...
Article
Diffuse reflectance hyperspectral imaging, or reflectance imaging spectroscopy, is a sophisticated technique that enables the capture of hundreds of images in contiguous narrow spectral bands (bandwidth < 10 nm), typically in the visible (Vis, 400–750 nm) and the near-infrared (NIR, 750–2500 nm) regions. This sequence of images provides a data set...
Article
Full-text available
We have investigated with terahertz time-domain imaging (THz-TDI) the well-known Lamentation over the dead Christ panel painting (San Marco Museum, Florence) painted by Fra Giovanni Angelico within 1436 and 1441. The investigation provided a better understanding of the construction and gilding technique used by the eminent artist, as well as the pl...
Article
In the occasion of the celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the founding of Italy (1861-2011), it was decided to analyse the artwork "The Italian Flag" (La Bandiera Italiana) created by the artist Fernando Melani (Pistoia, 1907-1985), one of the precursors of the Poor Art artistic movement in Italy. This project is a follow-up to a previous st...
Article
In this work, we present a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) study of the spin dynamics in the rare-earth-based low-dimensional molecular magnetic chains Eu(hfac)3NITEt and Gd(hfac)3NITEt (in short, Eu-Et and Gd-Et). Although both samples are based on the same chemical building block, [(hfac)3NITEt], their magnetic properties change dramatically whe...
Article
To date, little attention has been given to the scientific investigation of modern and contemporary mural paintings. This paper reports on: (1) the in situ spectroscopic analyses of the mural Tuttomondo (1989) painted by Keith Haring (1958–1990) in Pisa (Italy); and (2) the laboratory characterization of acrylic paints produced by Caparol Italy Gmb...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
Fluorescence LIDAR imaging has been already proposed in several studies as a valuable technique for the remote diagnostics and documentation of the monumental surfaces, with main applications referring to the detection and classification of biodeteriogens, the characterization of lithotypes, the detection and characterization protective coatings an...
Article
The potential of principal component analysis (PCA), on combined first derivative near-infrared and Raman spectra, was explored and tested in order to exhaustively characterize different oil-paint models, prepared with linseed and poppy-seed oil, and to verify the behavior of these binders in the presence of a pigment. A series of oil-paint models,...
Article
The present paper, which focuses on the identification of red lake pigments, in particular madder, brazilwood, and cochineal, addresses the advantages and drawbacks of using reflectance hyperspectral imaging in the visible and near-infrared ranges as a non-invasive method of discrimination between different red organic pigments in cultural heritage...
Conference Paper
Nowadays hyperspectral imaging is a well-established methodology for the non-invasive diagnostics of polychrome surfaces, and is increasingly utilized in museums and conservation laboratories for documentation purposes and in support of restoration procedures. However, so far the applications of hyperspectral imaging have been mainly limited to eas...
Article
Full-text available
This work explores the application of chemometric techniques to the analysis of lipidic paint binders (i.e., drying oils) by means of Raman and near-infrared spectroscopy. These binders have been widely used by artists throughout history, both individually and in mixtures. We prepared various model samples of the pure binders (linseed, poppy seed,...
Conference Paper
Hyper-spectral imaging has been applied as an in situ technique for the study and accurate digital documentation of coloured artworks. Providing spectral and colorimetric characterisation across the entire surface of an object, it can be used to identify the coloured materials, measure colour changes, and document it with high fidelity. However, de...
Article
Full-text available
This study concerns the application of non-invasive and micro-invasive analyses for the study of a contemporary artwork entitled La Caverna dell’Antimateria (“The Cave of Antimatter”) which was created by Pinot Gallizio in 1958–1959. The work represents one of the most significant examples of industrial painting. It consists of a total of 145 meter...
Conference Paper
Our cultural heritage is constituted by irreplaceable artworks that must be known and preserved. Their study and documentation should be in principle carried out using non-invasive approaches. The technological advances in spectroscopic imaging acquisition devices made it possible to apply this methodology to such purpose. In this context, the pres...
Article
This study was completed within the framework of two research projects dealing with the conservation of contemporary artworks. The first is the Seventh Framework Project (FP7) of the European Union, Preservation of Plastic ARTefacts in Museum Collections (POPART), spanning years 2008-2012, and the second is the Italian project funded by the Tuscan...
Book
Full-text available
In this chapter two examples of Photonic Technologies in implementation of safeguarding Cultural Heritage are presented. The first deals with the application of optical sensors and optical fiber-based systems for monitoring conditions of artworks in exhibits while the second example is from the field of laser technology and deals with the applicati...
Chapter
Safety and security of cultural heritage entail a huge variety of issues, all inherent to the protection of cultural assets from risks of damages of both anthropic and natural origin. Due to the high heterogeneity of cultural assets, which includes movable and immovable cultural properties (paintings, art objects, monuments, archeological sites, et...
Article
Fibre Optics Reflectance Spectroscopy (FORS) is a well-established technique, widely used in the conservation field for in situ investigations and non-invasive diagnostics on traditional artworks. Nevertheless, there is little knowledge on the use of this technique for investigating modern artists materials used in contemporary artworks. The presen...
Article
Full-text available
The IFAC-CNR hyper-spectral imaging system acquires cube-images at very high spatial and spectral resolution in the 400-900 nm range. The obtained data are used to study the composition of artists' materials, for true-colour reproduction of paintings, and for documenting the characteristic of the underdrawings and pentimenti. The current reluctance...
Article
In recent years Hyper-Spectral Imaging (HSI) technologies have become well-established for applications in the field of Cultural Heritage, and in particular for non-invasive analysis and high quality documentation of paintings and other polychrome surfaces. This paper reports on the latest developments of the on-going research at IFAC-CNR, where a...
Article
The aim of this study was to examine the simultaneous effect of multiple degradation agents on selected polymer materials in natural environments, and the relative effect of atmospheric pollutants compared to other environmental parameters (heat, humidity and light). A complex exposure experiment was set up to investigate the colour change of 18 di...
Article
A comprehensive understanding of both the chemical composition and physical behaviour of modern materials is an important consideration in devising correct conservation treatments for contemporary artworks. To this end, national and international research projects and networks have been established that deal mainly with the preservation, conservati...
Article
During the past two decades, thanks to the rapid development of solid-state-based sensor technology, digital imaging emerged as one of the most attractive research areas for the noninvasive investigation of paintings and flat artworks. In particular, the commercial availability of high-performance digital cameras opened up new perspectives to trans...
Chapter
The Preventive Conservation of Contemporary Art (COPAC) Project is a biennial research project financially supported by the Regione Toscana (Tuscany) within the framework of the Regional Call PAR-FAS 2007-2013. The goal of the Project, with the advice of private consultants, is to create a link between public academic and research institutions and...
Article
Hyper-Spectral Imaging (HSI) has emerged in the last decade as one of the most promising technologies for diagnostics and documentation of polychrome surfaces. Despite the fact that presently HSI is a well-established technique for non-invasive investigations on paintings, a number of technological issues remain open and are still topics for on-goi...
Article
Full-text available
In this communication a new collection of THz spectra of artists' materials along with the definition of procedures followed in preparing the samples and in acquiring the spectra will be presented. In particular, this paper focuses on white and blue artists' pigments in the 0.1-20 THz region.
Article
Afghan lapis lazuli, the source of precious Medieval and Renaissance blue, is known to show a distinctive absorption band in vibrational spectra, which is not present in other natural or artificial ultramarines. Despite the interest of this finding for geochemistry, gemology, history of art and forgery detection, an explanation for these difference...
Article
Full-text available
A selection is presented of fiber-optic and micro-optic devices that have been designed and tested for guaranteeing the quality and safety of typical foods, such as extra virgin olive oil, beer, and milk. Scattered colorimetry is used to authenticate various types of extra virgin olive oil and beer, while a fiber-optic-based device for UV-VIS-NIR a...
Article
Full-text available
Fluorescence spectroscopy carried out by means of optical fibers was used for the rapid screening of M1 aflatoxin in milk, enabling the detection of concentrations up to the legal limit, which is 50 ppt. A compact fluorometric device equipped with a LED source, a miniaturized spectrometer, and optical fibers for illumination/detection of the measur...
Article
Full-text available
Different physical and chemical factors, such as light, temperature, relative humidity, pollutants and so on, can affect works of art on display. Each factor does not act individually, but its effect can be enhanced or accelerated by the presence of other factors. Accordingly, an evaluation of the impact of the whole environment on art objects is r...
Article
This paper presents the development and optimization of an ultrasensitive light dosimeter, especially designed for the preventive risk assessment of damage to highly photosensitive artefacts. This indicator, named LightCheck® Ultra, is composed of a photosensitive dye/polymer layer applied on a paper support. The indicator is characterized by a pro...
Article
A compact fluorometric sensor equipped with a LED source and a high sensitivity PMT detector was implemented for the selective detection of native fluorescence of aflatoxin AFM1 in liquid solutions. This compact and easy-to-handle device is intended for the rapid monitoring of AFM1 in milk, enabling the detection of concentrations up to the legal l...
Article
Full-text available
A compact fluorometric sensor equipped with a LED source and a high sensitivity PMT detector has been implemented for the selective detection of native fluorescence of aflatoxin AFM1 in liquid solutions. This compact and easy-to-handle device is addressed to the rapid monitoring of AFM1 in milk, enabling the detection of concentrations up to the le...
Article
Due to the extreme fragility of paper-based artefacts, few techniques are available for scientific investigation and characterisation of ancient drawings or paper-based artefacts. Image reflectance spectroscopy represents an almost unique tool for scientific analysis on precious drawings, for which even micro-invasive techniques of analysis cannot...

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