Lecture on Thread Count Automation Project (TCAP)

Lecture
"Thread Count Automation Project (TCAP)"
by C. Richard Johnson
SRAL, Maastricht
24 May 2012
11am-12:30pm

Costs: 25 euros

The claim that two paintings are on canvas from the same original
roll can support conclusions on dating, authenticity, and other
issues of basic importance in art historical painting analysis.
Traditionally such claims begin with establishing matching average
thread counts for the two paintings. Averages are typically obtained
from a few manual spot counts at points scattered across the
painting. Manual spot counts are taken from x-rays of paintings
mounted on a lightbox and viewed through a magnifying eyepiece.
Recognizing thread counting from x-rays as a Fourier spectral
analysis problem propelled the founding of the Thread Count
Automation Project (TCAP) in 2007. Being able to compute the thread
count for every square centimeter across the painting revealed a
striped pattern in the local weave densities. Paintings sharing
threads from the same roll will possess the same striped pattern.
The weave density and angle maps produced by automated thread
counting are becoming new fundamental tools in technical art
history. The challenges of initiating such an interdisciplinary
effort will be described along with several discovered weave matches
with art historical implications.

Language: The lecture will be given in English.

Speaker

    C. Richard Johnson, Jr. was born in Macon, GA in 1950. He
    received a PhD in Electrical Engineering from Stanford
    University, along with the first PhD minor in Art History
    granted by Stanford, in 1977. Following 4 years on the faculty
    at Virginia Tech, he joined the Cornell University faculty in
    1981, where he is the Geoffrey S. M. Hedrick Senior Professor of
    Engineering and a Stephen H. Weiss Presidential Fellow. At the
    start of 2007, after 30 years of research on adaptive feedback
    systems theory and blind equalization in communication
    receivers, Professor Johnson accepted an appointment as an
    Adjunct Research Fellow of the Van Gogh Museum (Amsterdam, the
    Netherlands) to facilitate the interaction of art historians and
    conservation specialists with algorithm-building signal
    processors. Later that year he founded the Thread Count
    Automation Project (TCAP).  The first publication on weave
    matching by TCAP in an art history journal appeared in the
    February 2012 issue of "The Burlington Magazine".

Payment on registration to: info<-at->sral<.>nl

Venue: Wiebengahal, Avenue Ceramique 224, 6221 KX Maastricht
+31 43 321 8444
info<-at->sral<.>nl

    <URL:http://www.sral.nl>

Please contact Kate Seymour <k.seymour<-at->sral<.>nl> with any queries.

Stichting Restauratie Atelier Limberg (SRAL) was founded in 1986 to
preserve the cultural heritage within the Province of Limburg (The
Netherlands). Through the SRAL, the Provincial Government of Limburg
supports the conservation of art objects held in state or public
collections and churches within the province. Over the last 25 years
SRAL has grown to become a National and International Institute with
departments for the Conservation of Paintings (Panel and Canvas),
Polychrome Sculpture, Paper, Contemporary Art and Historic
Interiors.

The Institute also provides internship placements for recent
graduates and houses the Post-Graduate training of young
conservators from the University of Amsterdam in each department.
The Institute's well equipped studios are spacious and houses a team
of over twenty conservators and educators, in addition to the
Post-Graduate students and interns. Staff members work on site
focusing on collection care, and conserving painted decorations of
historic interiors. Furthermore, the SRAL laboratory has the
facilities to analyse historic painting materials and carry out
technical studies of art works.

Kate Seymour MA
Head of Education
ICOM-CC Coordinator Working Group Sculpture, Polychromy, and
    Architectural Decorations
SRAL
Postbus 1679
6201 BR Maastricht
The Netherlands
+31 43 321 8444


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 25:45
                   Distributed: Sunday, April 8, 2012
                       Message Id: cdl-25-45-009
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