Abstract Tivadar Csontváry Kosztka (1853–1919) is one of the most prominent Hungarian painters, yet the material aspects of his technique have remained largely unexplored. This study presents the technical examination of ground layers and supports in nineteen of his small- and medium-sized paintings. Non-invasive imaging methods (VIS, UV, IR) and handheld XRF were combined with optical microscopy and SEM-EDX analyses on selected samples. The results show that Csontváry prepared his own grounds with thicknesses between 50–150 µm, predominantly white or whitish, and composed of traditional materials such as chalk, lead white, barite and gypsum. Four principal ground types and several mixed compositions were identified. Beyond characterizing these materials, the study establishes the foundation of a systematic database for the future technical investigation, comparison, and authentication of Csontváry’s oeuvre.
Galambos et al. (Thu,) studied this question.