The Charta of Greece by Rigas Velestinlis in the Collections of the Onassis Foundation: Integrated Physicochemical Study Using Novel Imaging, Topographic and Spectroscopic Techniques

Athina Georgia Alexopoulou*, Agathi Anthoula Kaminari, Georgios Tsairis, Stamatios Boyatzis, Georgios Mastrotheodoros, Christos Galazios, Ourania Agoranou, Vasiliki Gerontopoulou, Penelope Banou

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

The object of the current study is one of the surviving copies of the Charta of Rigas Velestinlis belonging to the Onassis Library. The Charta is considered one of the most important works of the Neo-Hellenic Enlightenment and the most important sample of Greek cartography of the pre-revolutionary period. The aim of the present study is the documentation of the preservation state, the investigation of the construction technology and the determination of the construction materials and their degradation products. A non-destructive testing methodology was applied, which included visible light photography (VIS), imaging of the luminescence stimulated by UV radiation (365nm) (UVL), hyperspectral Imaging (HSI), digital microscopy, close-range photogrammetry and reflectance transformation imaging (RTI) to accurately capture the optical properties as well as morphological and geometric features allowing for detailed measurements on the surface elements. Portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (p-XRF) and infrared reflection spectroscopy (r-FTIR), were also applied to study the chemical composition of specific materials of interest. The obtained results revealed among others the type of handmade paper, the printing technique and the pigments used, as well as previous conservation attempts. Being the first of its kind, this study sets sound foundations for future investigations of other copies of the Charta.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication Advances in Nondestrutive Evaluation Technologies for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage
EditorsAhmad Osman, Antonia Moropoulou, Kyriakos Lampropoulos
Place of PublicationCham, Switzerland
PublisherSpringer
Pages90-111
Number of pages21
Edition1st
ISBN (Electronic)9783032131560
ISBN (Print)9783032131553, 9783032131584
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2026

Publication series

NameSpringer Proceedings in Materials
PublisherSpringer
Volume101
ISSN (Print)2662-3161
ISSN (Electronic)2662-317X

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