ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS BY XRF OF COLOR SAMPLES USED BY GIORGIO DE CHIRICO SAMPLED IN THE MASTER'S ATELIER AT THE HOUSE MUSEUM LOCATED IN PIAZZA DI SPAGNA IN ROME

The aim of this paper is to analyze numerous materials utilized by the esteemed artist Giorgio de Chirico underwent analysis. These materials are housed in the House Museum of Piazza di Spagna in Rome, where the painter spent the last thirty years of his life, thanks to the resources provided by the Giorgio and Isa de Chirico Foundation. Besides samples of resins and oils, including both pure and mixed varieties, approximately one hundred samples of tube colors were extracted from various boxes used by de Chirico, which are displayed in the Maestro's Atelier. Concurrently, ten paintings, with nearly 220 analysis points (one for every five years spanning from the 1930s to the 1970s), located within the House Museum, underwent analysis as well. The main objective is to establish a correlation between the tube colors utilized by the Master and the colors present in his paintings, aiming to identify significant markers that could serve as references for questions regarding the authenticity of his works. Additionally, the study conducts an in-depth investigation into the artistic technique of the great master, who was known for his penchant for experimenting with personal formulations in utmost secrecy. Furthermore, this study aims to contribute to the analysis of color degradation on canvas exposed to specific environmental conditions, in contrast to the original color preserved within the tube. The intriguing findings that have emerged need to be further enriched in the future through additional comparative analyses on a broader range of paintings and extended to contemporary painters. This endeavor aims to establish a technical-scientific database of reference for scholars of 20th Century painting.