Announcement: Math and Science Seminar - Science for Cultural Heritage - Thursday, February 12

The Department of Math and Science will present the seminar
"Science for Cultural Heritage," by Professor Antonio Sgamellotti of the
Department of Chemistry at the University of Perugia, on Thursday,
February 12 at 6 PM in the Alumni Reading Room on the third floor of the
Brooklyn Library.

Sgamellotti will speak about ways in which science provides powerful
tools to solve many problems in archaeological and art-historical
studies, conservation, and restoration. He will discuss the recent
technological developments in microelectronics and fiber optics that have
enabled the University of Perugia Centre of Excellence to build a
portable scientific mobile laboratory that allows non-destructive in-situ
analysis.

The professor also will report on an extensive recent study regarding the
state of conservation of Michelangelo's David, as well as studies
carried out on paintings by Perugino and Raphael.

In addition to using traditional pigments of the sixteenth century, these
Renaissance artists also experimented with metal powders, such as bismuth
and bronze; minerals with metallic luster; or even powders of transparent
uncolored glass in an effort to reach more sophisticated chromatic
effects. One surprising finding is that the ancient manufacturing
technique for luster decorations is very similar to the techniques used
today to prepare silver and copper nanoclusters dispersed in glassy
media, which are of interest in the field of opto-electronics.

The lecture is free and open to the Pratt community. Students, faculty
and staff members are welcome to attend. To RSVP or for more information,
email edelfede@pratt.edu.

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