Casting Light on the Darkening of Colors in Historical Paintings

Fabiana Da Pieve · Conor Hogan · D. Lamoen · Johan Verbeeck · Frederik Vanmeert · Marie Radepont +4 more

45 citations0/0 files storedPhysical Review Letters

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Cultural Heritage Materials Analysis Conservation Techniques and Studies Building materials and conservation

Abstract

The degradation of colors in historical paintings affects our cultural heritage in both museums and archeological sites. Despite intensive experimental studies, the origin of darkening of one of the most ancient pigments known to humankind, vermilion (α-HgS), remains unexplained. Here, by combining many-body theoretical spectroscopy and high-resolution microscopic x-ray diffraction, we clarify the composition of the damaged paint work and demonstrate possible physicochemical processes, induced by illumination and exposure to humidity and air, that cause photoactivation of the original pigment and the degradation of the secondary minerals. The results suggest a new path for the darkening process which was never considered by previous studies and prompt a critical examination of their findings.

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References

2006Blackening of Pompeian Cinnabar Paintings: X-ray Microspectroscopy Analysis 2008Applications of synchrotron-based micro-imaging techniques to the chemical analysis of ancient paintings 2005Analytical Imaging Studies Clarifying the Process of the Darkening of Vermilion in Paintings 2005In situ analysis of mediaeval wall paintings: a challenge for mobile Raman spectroscopy 2011The use of microscopic X-ray diffraction for the study of HgS and its degradation products corderoite (α-Hg3S2Cl2), kenhsuite (γ-Hg3S2Cl2) and calomel (Hg2Cl2) in historical paintings

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