Looking back in time

The National Gallery of Denmark (Statens Museum for Kunst) is the nation’s largest art museum, featuring outstanding collections of Danish and international art from the past seven centuries. Jakob Skou-Hansen is the Head of the photographic department, and Troels Filtenborg is the Senior Paintings Conservator at The National Gallery of Denmark. They have worked with X-ray systems for the last 20 years in the photographic and conservation departments and in the center for art, technological studies, and conservation (CATS).

“When researching artworks, we often need to determine; how, when, and by whom they are made. X-ray examination is unique in the way that it enables us to look inside, behind, and as it were - back in time,” explain Jakob and Troels from the gallery.

“When we apply radiography, it’s often because we have questions about the true condition of the artworks. A painting, for instance, may have been subject to several restorations in the past. When using radiography, we get an overview of the initial damage underneath the layers of restoration. Applying radiography to sculptures lets us see how they are constructed from the inside, which greatly supports us in the restoration process.”

“We also apply radiography to paper, looking for watermarks. Materials used in prints or drawings can sometimes make it difficult to identify a watermark. Radiography makes the watermarks visible and provides information about the structure of the paper in which it is embedded.”