A new study by researchers from CNR-INO, in collaboration with colleagues from CNR-ISPC Catania and the Opificio delle Pietre Dure, has just been published in Talanta (Elsevier). The paper presents an advanced analytical workflow developed within the DIAGNOSE project to study and preserve daguerreotypes—the earliest photographic images, renowned for their unique beauty but exceptional fragility.
Daguerreotypes often suffer from complex degradation phenomena that obscure the original image. Their preservation requires both high-sensitivity imaging and detailed characterization of the materials involved.
The team addressed this challenge through a multi-scale, multi-technique approach, integrating:
- Reflectance Imaging Spectroscopy to recover hidden or faded visual details
- Micro-XRF mapping for high-resolution elemental distribution
- Micro-Raman, micro-FTIR, and MA-XRD analyses to identify corrosion compounds
- Confocal XRF to investigate how deterioration evolves in depth
By combining these complementary techniques, the proposed workflow offers conservators a far more complete understanding of a daguerreotype’s condition—supporting informed decisions for conservation and long-term preservation.
Read the full paper: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2025.129140
