Scientific examination of the Mantegna's paintings in Sant'andrea, Mantua: the families of Christ and St.John the Baptist and the Baptism of Christ. a cura di Michel Menu, Elisabeth Ravaud. Techné. La technique picturale d'Andrea Mantegna. Paris, Musee de Louvre. 19 dicembre 2008. vol. 2009, pp. 46 - 66.

In this study the two paintings the Holy Family of Christ and St John Baptist (176 x 75 cm) and the Baptism of Christ located in the Saint Andrea church, Mantua have been studied to achieve information on the painting technique. Indeed, the attribution of the paintings to Mantegna has been the subject of many controversial discussions among scholars. Therefore, with the purpose of making available to scholars further useful information concerning the painting technique adopted and the paint materials constitution, a complement of scientific examinations, carried out in situ with the use of non-invasive portable analytical techniques, such as digital multi spectral scanner imaging system and energy dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) have been performed. It has been hence possible to evaluate the state of conservation, study applied artistic technique, distinguish and locate past restoration interventions and analyze colour and pigments. This has been particularly done by complementing the chemical information gathered through the use of EDXRF with the false-colour IR technique: a computer-based technique which combines colour images and reflectograms to create a “pseudo-colour” image where each pigment is represented by a specific false-colour that depends on its type of interaction with the infrared light.