Communication between scientist, curator, and conservator can be hampered by the specialized language used to describe analytical instruments and procedures. As a contribution to overcoming this barrier, synopses are presented of chemical and physical methods employed in the examination of paintings and other works of art. The aim is to clarify the terminology, briefly describe each method, and indicate areas of application. Methods described include infrared, ultraviolet, and fluorescence photography, infrared reflectography, x-radiography and electron emission radiography, light and scanning electron microscopy, x-ray spectrometry including x-ray secondary-emission (fluorescence) spectrometry and x-ray microanalysis, x-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Sampling and cross sections are discussed.