Scientists use forensic technology to unveil secrets of iconic paintings

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Conservators and scientists in Canberra are using forensic imaging to uncover the 'secrets' behind some of Australia’s most famous paintings. Sidney Nolan created his iconic 'Ned Kelly' series in the 1940s leaving details beneath layers of paint unseen by anyone but the artist himself until now.

Transcript

00:00Beneath the paint a hidden story is waiting to be revealed.

00:07He would often say there's more to this story but I'm not going to tell you.

00:12Conservators and scientists are turning detective at the Canberra Museum and Gallery

00:16forensically examining Sydney Nolan's Ned Kelly series.

00:20You can actually see textual sort of inconsistencies through the paint layer

00:24and they give you some clues that there's something underneath.

00:27Using imaging technology normally reserved for crime labs and medical research,

00:31the team can see through the paint to reveal what's buried underneath.

00:35Infrared reflectography is a camera technology like photographic work

00:40except that unlike visual light that we can see with our cameras and our eyes,

00:44this particular camera can see with infrared light so it can see through a surface.

00:51And they're uncovering hidden figures, words and newspaper clippings unseen by anyone

00:56but the artist himself.

00:58This recent one that we got, we have seen an early composition,

01:02it's not making sense, we're going to try and turn it upside down

01:06and see maybe he painted it the other way around.

01:08There's always things that are hidden, things that are new to find in his paintings.

01:13So sometimes when we find these things it just opens up new possibilities,

01:17new mysteries, new questions.

01:19It's part of a larger project celebrating 50 years since Nolan gifted his works to the nation.

01:25He too was very interested in science so I think he would appreciate,

01:29you know, new science, new technologies being used to find out new things about his paintings.

01:35Iconic images with surprising secrets.

01:37Iconic images with surprising secrets.

01:38Iconic images with surprising secrets.

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