Neutron back scattering for the search of the Battle of Anghiari

V R Bom; A Cosentino; M Seracini; R Rosa

doi:10.1016/j.apradiso.2009.07.025

Neutron back scattering for the search of the Battle of Anghiari

Appl Radiat Isot. 2010 Jan;68(1):66-70. doi: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2009.07.025. Epub 2009 Aug 18.

Authors

V R Bom¹, A Cosentino, M Seracini, R Rosa

Affiliation

¹ Delft University of Technology, Department of Applied Physics, Mekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft, The Netherlands. V.R.Bom@TUDelft.nl

PMID: 19733089
DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2009.07.025

Abstract

The 'Battle of Anghiari' is a wall painting made by Leonardo Da Vinci around 1505. Its present day location is unknown but some indications suggest that the mural might be concealed behind a brick wall. Test measurements are presented demonstrating that neutron back scattering (NBS) can be used to search through the wall for the painting. NBS is a non-destructive technique to establish the presence of the hydrogen contained in the painting materials that were probably used by Da Vinci.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't