MRI-R2: Portable X-Ray Fluorescence, Digital IR Photography, and Stereomicroscopy Applied to University Collections of Art and History at Washington and Lee University

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。有了这个主要研究和仪器（MRI）计划的奖项，Erich S。Uffelman和同事艾莉森贝尔，罗纳德福克斯，彼得格罗弗和帕特里夏霍布斯的华盛顿李（W L）大学将获得一个便携式X射线荧光光谱仪，一个数字红外相机，和一个繁荣安装研究质量立体显微镜。 这些仪器将用于化学，人类学和博物馆研究系的学生和教师对W L广泛持有的艺术和历史物品进行无损技术分析。要进行的研究项目包括分析几个历史上重要的绘画乔治华盛顿，技术的评估未成年人的世纪之交的大师路易丝Herreshoff，W L的陶瓷和瓷器的研究，并在托马斯杰斐逊的蒙蒂塞洛家中发现的对象分析。 这些项目将把分析化学、物理化学和无机化学的技术应用于艺术史、考古学和人类学的问题，使学生和教师参与科学和人文学科的研究。X射线荧光光谱法用于对绘画和陶瓷等各种物体中比Mg重的元素进行无损元素分析。 红外照相机使用红外辐射形成图像。 由于许多颜料对红外光是半透明的，相机可以显示油漆层下的物体。立体显微镜产生三维图像，并将用于促进采取微量样品（当道德上适当时）进行其他分析方法。 该奖项所提供的仪器将为学生提供广泛的关键实践经验，并使公众了解化学在艺术史研究中的应用。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5). With this award from the Major Research and Instrumentation (MRI) program, Erich S. Uffelman and colleagues Alison Bell, Ronald Fuchs, Peter Grover and Patricia Hobbs of Washington & Lee (W&L) University will acquire a portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer, a digital infrared camera, and a boom-mounted research-quality stereomicroscope. These instruments will be employed in the nondestructive technical analysis of W&L's extensive holdings of art and historical objects by students and faculty in the Departments of Chemistry, Anthropology, and Museum Studies. Research projects to be undertaken include analysis of several historically important paintings of George Washington, an assessment of the technique of the minor turn-of-the-century master Louise Herreshoff, studies of W&L's ceramics and porcelain, and analysis of objects discovered at Thomas Jefferson's home of Monticello. These projects, which will apply techniques of analytical, physical and inorganic chemistry to problems in art history, archaeology and anthropology will engage students and faculty in research at the interface of science and the humanities.X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy is used for nondestructive elemental analysis of elements heavier than Mg in a variety of objects including paintings and ceramics. An infrared camera forms an image using infrared radiation. Since many pigments are semi-transparent to infrared light, the camera can reveal objects under layers of paint. A stereomicroscope produces a three-dimensional image and will be used to facilitate taking microsamples (when ethically appropriate) for other methods of analysis. The instrumentation made available by this award will provide a broad range of students critical hands-on experience in several courses and expose the public to applications of chemistry in art history investigations.