Full-Field Hyperspectral Imaging of a Painting in the Mid-Infrared

Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) offers per-pixel spectroscopy of a scene. Applications in cultural heritage using visible- and near-infrared sources have seen analyses of pigments, tapestries, inks, and films [1–4]. Mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy can be utilized to identify molecules as this photon energy range (fingerprint region) includes molecular transition energies. For paintings, HSI can achieve non-invasive insights into material distribution and degradation mechanisms [5]. Here, an HSI analysis of the painting ‘Uplands in Lome’ (Acc. No.: GLAHA:43427) by David Young Cameron (1865–1945) is demonstrated in the 700–1400 cm
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bandwidth using an imaging Fourier transform spectrometer (IFTS). IFTS in the MIR has potential as a valuable spectroscopic instrument due to the characteristics of FTS for broadband high-resolution detection with high throughput but has not been fully explored as the detection instruments are often costly and have complicated cooling requirements.