VIL dataset of the Anadyomene Venus

Statuette of Venus. The piece is not fully intact, with the lower portion of the body missing from the mid-thighs downward. The goddess is represented in the iconography of Anadyomene, with a slight movement of the torso that suggests the physical exertion of wringing out her hair after emerging from the sea or bath. This posture, which is well-documented in classical depictions of Venus, emphasizes the dynamic nature of her action, creating a subtle sense of movement and tension. The hair of the deity is rendered in a flowing style, divided into two large strands that she holds in each hand. These thick locks are an essential element of the iconography. Remarkably, traces of the original polychrome painting have been preserved on the hair; pigments cover a significant portion of the hair to enhance realism. The goddess is depicted nude. 

Visible induced luminescence (VIL) is a technique belonging to the MBI photographic techniques. The object is irradiated with a source of radiation that does not include the infrared spectral band. At the same time, the modified camera with a dedicated filter collects the infrared luminescence of selected pigments, such as Egyptian blue.   

A modified Canon EOS 400D camera without the internal ICF/AA filter, Canon EFS 18-135mm, F/3.5-5.6 IS lens and a IR bandpass filter B+W 093 IR 

Two Quantum T5D-R flashes, with the support of two QF80 Qflash UV/IR Wave Reflectors, provided with B+W 468 UV/IR cut 

Each image is acquired in *.RAW format, which contains low-processed data to preserve entirely the information recorded by the image sensor. The image parameters are calibrated with a ColorChecker and a self-build target with Egyptian blue. 

The image acquired is elaborated with a graphics editor program, saved in jpg file and rendered in black and white image where Egyptian blue appears like spots with high luminosity. 

f 9.0, time 1/200 s, manual mode, neutral balance, ISO 200 

Egyptian blue glowing white if present