x射线技术帮助恢复19世纪丢失的名画

X-Ray Technology Helps Recover Lost 19th-Century Images

The world’s very first photographs were taken in the 1830s.

Scientists now say they have found a way to recover lost images made from the very first photographic process. The new method uses X-ray technology and light imaging to help save images badly damaged by the effects of age.

Researchers from Canada’s University of Western Ontario published a report on their findings.

The first widely accepted photographic process was the creation of France’s Louis Daguerre in 1839. Images made by this method were called daguerreotypes.

The process involved combining metal particles and chemicals on a silver-covered piece of copper² to reflect, or give back, images of light. This reflective process was able to produce sharp, colorless pictures. In the beginning, the technology required people to sit completely still for at least one minute for the process to capture a photograph.

The daguerreotype¹ first made it possible to capture and save “true” images that presented a realistic look at history. This is because, unlike paintings, daguerreotypes reflected exactly what was photographed.

But over time, daguerreotypes may suffer damage because of environmental conditions, such as heat and bright light. Some of the damaged images can become unrecognizable.

Research chemists at Western University say they have found a high-tech³ way to bring these photographic treasures back to life. The team developed the process over several years while studying the chemical changes that harm daguerreotype images.

The team used X-ray technology to map and examine daguerreotype plates from the 19th century. The process is designed to identify the levels and position of mercury particles on the plates.

Western University’s Tsun-Kong (T.K.) Sham⁴ was one of the lead researchers on the project. He says mercury is necessary to creating photographic imagery. While the surface may be heavily damaged, the mercury particles remain.

“By looking at the mercury, we can retrieve⁵ the image in great detail,” he said.

Researchers said the X-ray imaging process takes about eight hours on each daguerreotype plate. When complete, full images can be recovered, even if they could not be seen at all before.

The research chemists showed how their process helped restore two images from the collection of the National Gallery of Canada. Those photos - which experts say could have been created as early as 1850 - were tarnished⁷ so badly they were unrecognizable.

Madalena Kozachuk helped to lead the research. She is studying to earn a doctorate⁸ of philosophy in Western University’s Department of Chemistry.

Kozachuk said that she was surprised when the image first appeared after being “hidden behind time” for many years.

“But then we see it, and we can see such fine details: the eyes, the folds of the clothing, the detailed⁹ embroidered¹¹ patterns of the table cloth,” she said.

The researchers say they did not find evidence that any part of the process damaged the 19th-century plates.

Photography experts estimate that millions of daguerreotype images may have been created over 20 years in the 19th century. Eventually, the process was replaced with other methods.

“By improving the process of restoring these centuries-old images, the scientists are contributing to the historical record,” the university said in a statement. “What was thought to be lost, showing the life and times of people from the 19th century, can now be found.”

The researchers say this new way to recover lost images without damaging effects will help museums breathe new life into some of their oldest image collections.

I’m Bryan Lynn.

Words in This Story

photograph – n. a picture or likeness¹² made by a camera

reflect – v. to show or be a sign of something

plate – n. a flat piece of metal or glass

retrieve – v. to get and bring back from a place

tarnish⁶ – adj. having a thin layer of material on the surface of metal that damages it or makes it look dull

fold – n. a part of something (like) cloth that lies or hangs on another part

embroider¹⁰ – v. sew a design on a piece of cloth

restore – v. return something to an earlier or original condition by repairing it, cleaning it, etc.

contribute – v. to help cause something to happen

1 daguerreotype   

n.银板照相

参考例句：

• The inventor of the daguerreotype is a French artist.银版照相的发明者是位法国艺术家。
• The image was taken by louis daguerre who invented the daguerreotype-one of the earliest methods of photography.这张照片是由路易斯达盖尔拍摄，他发明了银版照相法-摄影的最早方法之一。

2 copper   

n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的

参考例句：

• The students are asked to prove the purity of copper.要求学生们检验铜的纯度。
• Copper is a good medium for the conduction of heat and electricity.铜是热和电的良导体。

3 high-tech   

adj.高科技的

参考例句：

• The economy is in the upswing which makes high-tech services in more demand too.经济在蓬勃发展，这就使对高科技服务的需求量也在加大。
• The quest of a cure for disease with high-tech has never ceased. 人们希望运用高科技治疗疾病的追求从未停止过。

4 sham   

n./adj.假冒(的)，虚伪(的)

参考例句：

• They cunningly played the game of sham peace.他们狡滑地玩弄假和平的把戏。
• His love was a mere sham.他的爱情是虚假的。

5 retrieve   

vt.重新得到，收回；挽回，补救；检索

参考例句：

• He was determined to retrieve his honor.他决心恢复名誉。
• The men were trying to retrieve weapons left when the army abandoned the island.士兵们正试图找回军队从该岛撤退时留下的武器。

6 tarnish   

n.晦暗，污点；vt.使失去光泽；玷污

参考例句：

• The affair could tarnish the reputation of the prime minister.这一事件可能有损首相的名誉。
• Stainless steel products won't tarnish.不锈钢产品不会失去光泽。

7 tarnished   

（通常指金属）（使）失去光泽，（使）变灰暗( tarnish的过去式和过去分词 )； 玷污，败坏

参考例句：

• The mirrors had tarnished with age. 这些镜子因年深日久而照影不清楚。
• His bad behaviour has tarnished the good name of the school. 他行为不轨，败坏了学校的声誉。

8 doctorate   

n.(大学授予的)博士学位

参考例句：

• He hasn't enough credits to get his doctorate.他的学分不够取得博士学位。
• Where did she do her doctorate?她在哪里攻读博士？

9 detailed   

adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的

参考例句：

• He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
• A detailed list of our publications is available on request.我们的出版物有一份详细的目录备索。

10 embroider   

v.刺绣于(布)上；给…添枝加叶，润饰

参考例句：

• The editor would take a theme and embroider upon it with drollery.编辑会将一篇文章，以调侃式的幽默笔调加以渲染。
• She wants to embroider a coverlet with flowers and birds.她想给床罩绣上花鸟。

11 embroidered   

adj．绣花的

参考例句：

• She embroidered flowers on the cushion covers. 她在这些靠垫套上绣了花。
• She embroidered flowers on the front of the dress. 她在连衣裙的正面绣花。

12 likeness   

n.相像，相似（之处）

参考例句：

• I think the painter has produced a very true likeness.我认为这位画家画得非常逼真。
• She treasured the painted likeness of her son.她珍藏她儿子的画像。