Conclusion
Analysis of smalt discoloration in paintings by X-ray absorption spectroscopy

Synchrotron X-ray absorption spectroscopy is a highly interesting technique for studying heritage materials, particularly for understanding weathering phenomena. Although it cannot be used routinely to analyze paintings, it does offer the possibility of answering very specific questions about a work or a corpus of works. The technique enables both amorphous and crystallized materials to be studied non-destructively. Thanks to the tunable energy of its source, the technique can probe the environment of a specific atom, providing both qualitative XANES and quantitative EXAFS information on the structure of the compounds present. The brightness of the beam provided by synchrotron radiation and its size, which can reach a few microns, make it possible to examine well-localized areas within the complex, heterogeneous materials that are heritage materials. This parameter has proved crucial in...