Dataset: "Mixing Chemistry and Pigments: X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy as a Nondestructive Technique for Analysis of Pigments in a Painted Japanese Handscroll" ; F1907.375a, XRF 2018

Scanning x-ray fluorescence data and relevant photodocumentation images of a Japanese handscroll, The Miraculous Interventions of the Jizō Bosatsu (Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC: Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1907.375a). Scans were performed in 2018 with a Bruker Tracer 5g handheld XRF. The XRF data provided includes x and y position and the fitted element intensities for relevant XRF peaks. Any negative intensity values have been replaced by a zero value. The scanner x,y are rotated compared to the image; transforming the data may be necessary for proper orientation (rotate 90 deg). The scanner x position has been shifted to account for scanner travel direction. Data location is described as the handscroll scene (S##), a sequential letter for the scan area within the scene (e.g., A = 1), with a descriptor (e.g., woman).

Only select scenes from the larger study are provided for use to accompany the publication: "Mixing Chemistry and Pigments: X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy as a Nondestructive Technique for Analysis of Pigments in a Painted Japanese Handscroll" by Kathryn L. Rowberg, Grethe Hystad, Matthew L. Clarke, Jazmin Gonzalez, and Johnathon M. Taylor in “Contextualizing Chemistry in Art & Archaeology: Inspiration for Faculty” Editors: Kevin Braun and Kristin Labby. American Chemical Society, 2021, pp 217-231, DOI: 10.1021/bk-2021-1386.ch010

Details about the data collection may be found in:

Clarke, M.L., Gabrieli, F., Rowberg, K.L. et al. Imaging spectroscopies to characterize a 13th century Japanese handscroll, The Miraculous Interventions of Jizō Bosatsu. Herit Sci 9, 20 (2021).

https://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-021-00497-1

Image credit: Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC: Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1907.375a (detail) / Department of Conservation and Scientific Research, Photograph by Jiro Ueda)