Materials and techniques in the pictorial oeuvre of Lucio Fontana

The painting materials used by Lucio Fontana were investigated by performing the analytical characterization of 28 Spatial Concepts works made between the early 1950s and his death in 1968. The pictorial media were analyzed by means of numerous techniques including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-Gc/MS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and x-ray fluorescence. This study has provided a more complete understanding of the artist’s technique, as it was found that Lucio Fontana had already begun experimenting with new synthetic pictorial and binding media such as alkyds and polyvinyl acetates (PVAc) by the 1950’s, and polyesters in the 1960’s. Although he never abandoned the use of commercial oil paints, Fontana’s applications of the new materials continued, even if just to incorporate different materials on the work surfaces. The characterization results are used to explain the physical and mechanical properties of the paint layers, and may be correlated with the conservation states of the works. All the results have been compiled and are discussed together with the artist’s practices and their evolution over time.