Non-invasive spectroscopic measurements on the Il ritratto della figliastra by Giovanni Fattori: identification of pigments and colourimetric analysis

The painting Il ritratto della figliastra (Portrait of the Stepdaughter) by Giovanni Fattori (1889, Gallery of Modern Art, Pitti Palace, Florence) was investigated using non-invasive fibre optics reflectance spectroscopy (FORS). The use of compact and transportable instrumentation made it possible to easily record spectra of the polychrome surface at the restorer’s atelier during the restoration work. The results of colour analysis before and after the cleaning procedure of the painting are reported and discussed, together with an attempt at pigment identification.