2 hours agoScientists identify secret ingredient in Leonardo da Vinci's paintings
Periskopi(3 years ago)
(3 years ago)“Old Masters” such as Leonardo da Vinci, Sandro Botticelli and Rembrandt may have used proteins, especially egg yellow, in their oil paintings, according to a new study. The traces of protein waste have long been discovered in classical oil paintings. A new study published by [...]
“Old Masters” such as Leonardo da Vinci, Sandro Botticelli and Rembrandt may have used proteins, especially egg yellow, in their oil paintings, according to a new study.
The traces of protein waste have long been discovered in classical oil paintings. A new study published on Tuesday in Nature Communications found that involvement was possible intentional and sheds light on the technical knowledge of Old Masters, the most capable European painters of the 16th century, 17th or early 18th centuries, and the way they prepared their dyes.
There are very few sources written about this and no scientific work was done before to investigate this topic at such a large depth,” Research author Ozélie Ranquet of the Institute of Engineering and Mechanical Process said.
Our <x0) results show that even with a very small amount of yellow eggs, you can achieve an amazing change of properties in oil paint, demonstrating how it might have been useful to artists”, She added.
Simply adding a little yellow eggs to their work may result in long - term effects going beyond just aesthetics.
Researchers recreated the process of making ink by using four components of egg yellow, liquidated water, linen oil, and pigments to mix two historically known and significant colors, lead whites and ultramarine blues.
Chemical reactions between oil, pigment, and yellow proteins directly affect the behavior and visuality of the dye. For example, the lead's white pigment is quite sensitive to moisture, but if you coat it with a layer of protein, it makes it much more resistant to it, making the paint quite easy to apply.
A direct testimony to the effect of the egg's yellow on oil paint, or its lack, can be seen in the “Madonna and Karafilt” of Leonardo da Vinci, one of the paintings observed during the study. Currently exposed at Alte Pinacothek in Munich, Germany, the work shows visible wrinkles in the face of Mary and the child.
One reason for wrinkles may be the insufficient amount of pigments in ink, and the study has shown that this effect can be avoided by adding egg yellow.
