What can be discovered beneath the visible surface of an icon more than three centuries old, created in the authentic zograph style? Through the integration of scientific methods and artistic interpretation, this lecture will present a comprehensive multi-analytical study of the icon Saint Theodore Tiron and Saint George, the work of an unknown master. By applying modern research techniques — ultraviolet and infrared imaging, computed X-ray tomography, various spectroscopic methods, and electron microscopy — hidden layers of the painting are revealed, including underdrawings, pigments used, and the structure of the wooden support.
An interdisciplinary team of physicists, conservators, radiologists, and art historians carefully analyzed even the most subtle details of the icon. These findings not only contribute to a deeper understanding of painting techniques and materials, but also shed light on the historical and cultural context of its creation, as well as possible interventions and restorations over time. Particularly significant is the fact that, for the first time in Serbia — and, according to current knowledge, more broadly — the application of dual-energy computed tomography will be presented on this icon.
We invite you to discover how science and art history together can unlock the secrets of a 300-year-old work of art. The lecturer, Dr. Olivera Klisurić, is a Full Professor at the Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad. She is also engaged at the Faculty of Medicine, where she teaches Biophysics, and at the Academy of Arts, where she has been leading the master’s course Materials Testing in Conservation for the past five years. Her primary scientific field is solid-state physics, or materials science, within which she has published more than 80 scientific papers, cited over a thousand times. Her work at the Academy of Arts sparked a long-standing interest in works of art, which has grown into a strong commitment to archaeometry — a passionate scientific pursuit focused on the study and preservation of our cultural heritage.
Admission is free and registration is not required.