  Establishing affordable, efficient, accessible, innovative, and
multidisciplinary methodologies are key to the creation of modern public
policies on cultural heritage. Limited access to large-format paintings is a
challenge to restoration scientists seeking to obtain information quickly, in a
non-invasive manner, and identify regions of interest. Therefore, we put
forward two unique software tools based on multispectral imaging techniques,
with the long-term aim of assessing the artist's intentions, creative process,
and color palette. This development paves the way for a comprehensive and
multidisciplinary understanding of the mysteries encompassed in each pictorial
layer, through the study of their physical and chemical characteristics. We
conducted the first-ever study on Musas I and II, two large-format paintings by
Italian artist Carlo Ferrario, located in the National Theatre of Costa Rica.
In this study, we used our novel techniques to chose regions of interest in
order to study sample layers; while also assessing the works' state of
conservation and possible biodeterioration. We explored the applications of our
two versatile software tools, RegionOfInterest and CrystalDistribution, and
confirmed paint stratigraphies by means of microscopy and spectroscopy
analyses. In a pilot study, we identified the artist's main color palette: zinc
white, lead white, chrome yellow, lead read, viridian, along with artificial
vermilion and ultramarine pigments. We were able to identify artificial
vermilion and ultramarine and distinguish them from the natural pigments using
CrystalDistribution to map the average size and diameter of the pigment
crystals within the paint layers. This study demonstrated that software-based
multidisciplinary imaging techniques are fundamental in establishing preventive
and non-invasive methods for historical painting conservation studies and
virtual restoration.
