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Collections Care

The conservation team volunteered their time to perform a condition assessment of the entire Ruspoli collection housed at Villanova University. Temporary hanging racks were used to store several of the works throughout the examination process.

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Date: 2014-08-23

Condition Reports

Project interns and volunteers performed photo-documentation of each painting and completed summarized condition reports for Villanova's archives.

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Date: 2014-08-23

Status

Performed in-situ x-radiography on entire composition with the assistance of GE Energy Management Inspection Services. Continued to apply fills and tone losses throughout upper section.

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Date: 2014-09-01

January 2014

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Date: 2014-09-01

August 2014

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Date: 2014-09-03

2014-08 IMAGE

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Date: 2014-09-03

September 2014

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Date: 2014-09-05

2014-09 IMAGE

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Date: 2014-09-05

Preparation for X-Radiography

Continued to apply fills and tone losses throughout upper section.

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Date: 2014-09-07

Preparing the Space

A team from GE Energy Management Inspection Services helped to prepare the space to ensure that all safety precautions were followed accordingly. The x-ray tube was positioned on tripod in front of the painting at a fixed distance for all 120 captures (Pictured Here: James McKinney III and Mark Shurtleff from GE Energy Management).

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Date: 2014-09-07

Preparing the Film

A special holder equipped with magnets was designed by Villanova's Instrument/Machinist expert Brad Thorstensen to hold the light-sensitive polyester film in place during each exposure. The film could be easily slid in and out of the holder while the magnets were used to suspend the film in a fixed position (Pictured Here: Project Leader Kristin deGhetaldi).

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Date: 2014-09-07

Positioning the Film

Over a period of 3 days, over 120 captures were taken of the painting. A number of volunteers were involved in the lengthy process which involved scaffolding, ladders, and other cumbersome equipment (Pictured Here: Project intern Keara Teeter and project volunteer Morgan Shankweiler).

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Date: 2014-09-07

Overall X-ray Composite

The team collected over 120 captures to produce this overall composite image of the x-radiograph. X-rays have a difficult time penetrating areas that were painted with lead white or other radio-opaque pigments (such as vermillion) in addition to sections that were built up with several layers of paint. These regions appear white in the X-ray image and help to reveal brushwork, changes, and even hidden figures.
More on X-Radiography Here

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Date: 2014-09-13

X-Radiography Examination

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Date: 2014-09-18

Woman with Tambourine

Minimal changes were detected in the two women shown in this detail, indicating that they were planned during the initial stages of the composition. The arms of the left woman were enlarged as well as her shoulder.

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Date: 2014-09-18

Goliath

Only slight changes were made to Goliath's head. This area is very thinly painted and was likely executed during the early stages of the composition.

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Date: 2014-09-18

Hidden Women

Two smaller female heads (in conversation) were part of the original composition. At some point there were covered with the blue paint of the sky and replaced with a single female head.

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Date: 2014-09-18

King Saul

Slight adjustments were made to King Saul's head as it was initially much larger. The original position of the crown can clearly be seen in the x-ray image.

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Date: 2014-09-18

Trio of Soldiers

Multiple changes were made to the position of the soldier's feet and legs.

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Date: 2014-09-18

Hidden Child

Although it is extremely faint in the x-ray image, the face and hand of a small child can be seen just below the elbow of the woman standing in the background. This child was part of the original composition.composition only to be abandoned at a later stage.

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Date: 2014-09-18