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Researcher

Geert Van der Snickt

  • Research Expertise:Geert Van der Snickt received his Master in Conservation-Restoration in 2003 at the University of Antwerp. Shortly after, he affiliated with the Department of Chemistry of the same institute. In 2012, he successfully defended a PhD thesis entitled: “James Ensor's Pigments Studied by Means of portable and synchrotron radiation-based analysis: identification, evolution and degradation” guided by professor Koen Janssens, head of the Antwerp X-ray analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation (AXES) group. From 2014 to 2018 he held a Chair on Chemical Imaging for the Arts within the same group. In 2019, he returned to the Conservation-Restoration department by accepting a position as tenure track professor. As a cultural heritage scientist, his work focuses on synchrotron radiation-based analysis and the application of chemical imaging techniques for non-invasive characterization of paintings, art materials and their degradation products. This research is performed on a daily basis in collaboration with conservators-restorers, art historians, curators and museum staff. Experiments are performed on both Old and New Masters ranging from Van Eyck to Pollock. Recent works under study include the Ghent Altarpiece by Van Eyck, The Girl with the Pearl Earring by Vermeer, The Scream by Munch and the Sunflowers by Van Gogh.
  • Keywords:CHEMICAL ANALYSIS, IMAGING TECHNIQUES, CONSERVATION, SYNCHROTRON RADIATION, RESTORATION, HERITAGE PRESERVATION, HERITAGE, HYPERSPECTRAL IMAGING SYSTEMS, Fine arts (incl. archaeology)
  • Disciplines:Analytical chemistry, Curatorial and related studies, Other history and archaeology, Art studies and sciences, Conservation-restoration science, Heritage
  • Research techniques:Mobile Chemical Imaging Techniques: Macro X-Ray Fluorescence scanning (MA-XRF) Macro X-Ray Powder Diffraction Scanning (MA-XRPD) in reflection and transmission Macro Fourier Transformed Infrared Scanning in reflection (MA-FTIR) Mobile Spectroscopic Point measurement: Portable X-Ray Fluorescence spectromery (PXRF) Fourier Transformed Infrared in reflection (FTIR) X-Ray Powder Diffractio (XRPD) in reflection en transmission mode Synchrotron-based techniques on micro and nano scale: XANES, XRD, XRF, FTIR Lab-based analytical techniques: Raman spectroscopy (RS) Scanning Electronen Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray detector detector (SEM-EDX)
  • Users of research expertise:Conservators Restorators Curators Art Historians Museum staff Heritage Scientists