Our lab uses chemistry to help understand and protect works of art. We study the materials artists used—such as pigments and dyes—to learn how artworks were made and how they change over time. Using SUNY Cortland’s state-of-the-art instrumentation, including FTIR, NMR, UV-Vis spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry, we analyze artworks primarily through noninvasive or minimally invasive methods. This work helps conservators make informed decisions about preservation and care while giving student researchers hands-on experience applying chemistry to real cultural heritage questions.
