Wikipedia

Draft:Arteomics

  • Comment: Sorry, but this is not appropriate for Wikipedia. This article is based upon a recent Science article where the term is introduced. Wikipedia is not the place for this type of material, we are very conservative. Only well established science and information goes here. I suggest you wait some years to see if the larger community accepts this as a legitimate field. Only then could an article on it be suitable for Wikipedia. Ldm1954 (talk) 17:29, 12 January 2026 (UTC)

Arteomics (or Artomics) is an interdisciplinary field and/or organization situated at the intersection of art, science, and technology, with a particular focus on the analysis, creation, and interpretation of artistic works using a variety of biological and chemical methods along with data-driven analytical techniques to extract useful information from historical objects. The term combines art and -omics, reflecting an approach inspired by large-scale analytical disciplines such as genomics and proteomics.[1]

Overview

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Arteomics (or Artomics) can be described as a "investigation of biological materials in cultural heritage collections" that applies systematic often computational methods to study artistic expression, materials, processes, and/or cultural impact. Depending on context, it may refer to a research methodology, a conceptual framework, or a specific initiative or organization operating within the arts and sciences.[2]

The field emphasizes cross-disciplinary collaboration among artists, scientists, engineers, genealogists, conservators and art historians amongst others, aiming to uncover patterns of materiality, traces of biological materials and potentially DNA of a variety of organisms to study the microbiome of a work that can potentially reveal meanings in art that may not be apparent through traditional qualitative analysis alone.[3]

Etymology

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The word arteomics (or Artomics) is derived from art and the suffix -omics, commonly used in scientific disciplines to denote comprehensive, high-throughput analysis of complex systems. The term suggests a holistic and systematic study of art and artistic phenomena.[4]

Scope and methods

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Arteomics may encompass a range of methods. It uses novel methodologies and combines the compositional and formal analysis of cultural objects with the aim of "identifying characteristics transferred, both voluntarily and involuntarily, to the objects due to the cultural, social and economic context of the time period they were created in".[5]

Arteomics can help with provenance through identification of minute clues within the works linked to the cultural context of the work's fabrication (or re-fabrication) time period.

The specific methodologies used vary depending on the goals of the project or organization employing an arteomic approach. For example, the Leonardo da Vinci DNA project seeks to "create insights into the life and work of Leonardo da Vinci through application of rapidly advancing tools in biology and anthropology in close association with expertise from history and the arts. The new detective technologies span genetics and genealogy, microbiology, physical anthropology, chemistry, hydraulics, and visualization. A principal means for insight would be a genomic profile of Leonardo."[6]

Applications

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Applications of arteomics can be found in several domains:

  • Art research and conservation: Supporting authentication, restoration, and preservation of artworks
  • Creative practice: Enabling new forms of artistic creation informed by data and algorithms
  • Cultural studies: Analyzing trends and influences across large bodies of artistic works
  • Education: Providing interdisciplinary frameworks that integrate art and science

History and development

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The development of arteomics is linked to broader trends in digital humanities, computational creativity, and the increasing use of scientific tools in art analysis. Its emergence reflects growing interest in hybrid practices that bridge traditionally separate disciplines. Arteomics is "an emerging field that complements traditional art analysis through scientific methods to learn more about an object’s creator, their environment, and the history of the object itself. It can also be used to help authenticate specific pieces or identify the artists behind unsigned work."[7]

Reception

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Arteomics has had a varied reception across academic and artistic communities. Proponents highlight its potential to expand understanding of art through new analytical perspectives, while critics caution against over-reliance on quantitative methods in interpreting cultural and aesthetic value. However, a recent Science magazine article by Richard Stone, "The Real Da Vinci Code", indicates a growing interest.[8]

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ Crespi, Sarah; Stone, Richard (8 January 2026). "The real da Vinci code, and the world's oldest poison arrows". Science. doi:10.1126/science.zhe4p4l.
  2. ↑ "Art Bio Matters Speaker Series | 1 International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works".
  3. ↑ https://www.artbiomatters.org/
  4. ↑ Magkanas, G.; Bagán, H.; Sistach, M.C.; García, J.F. (February 2023). "Artomics: A holistic approach to the study of artworks integrating their compositional and formal characteristics. Application on the Liber Feudorum Maior". Microchemical Journal. 185 108276. doi:10.1016/j.microc.2022.108276.
  5. ↑ Vilanova, Cristina; Porcar, Manuel (March 2020). "Art-omics: multi-omics meet archaeology and art conservation". Microbial Biotechnology. 13 (2): 435–441. doi:10.1111/1751-7915.13480. PMC 7017809. PMID 31452355.
  6. ↑ "About the Leonardo da Vinci DNA Project – Leonardo DNA Project".
  7. ↑ "Art Sleuths May Have Recovered Traces of Leonardo da Vinci's DNA from One of His Drawings".
  8. ↑ Stone, Richard (6 January 2026). "Exclusive: Have scientists found Leonardo da Vinci's DNA?". Science. doi:10.1126/science.zdq8w5s.

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