ANALYSIS OF A PAINTING MADE ON METAL SUPPORT IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH PATERNITY

The work analyzes an artwork painted on a metal plate as a substrate in order to establish its authenticity. In the lower-right side is to be noticed a signature alongside a date ("Lecca 1866"), whilst on the reverse, in the upper-central part, there is another signature under which there is an inscription in Greek language ("O A Gamma IO Sigma ANT Omega NIO Sigma (phonetictranscription AGIOS ANTONIOS) 1866". The signatures, dates and the inscription on the front and reverse sides of the paintings were added long after the original painting was carried out. The outcome is showing the work was repainted almost entirely on tin-plated iron sheet. The work includes a brief study on the work and activity of painter C. Lecca. The history of the use of metal supports in easel painting is also investigated. A complex metallographic analysis was performed on the metal support (i.e. optical microscopy and SEM-EDX). X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) analyzes were carried on the paint layer.