Lead has played a significant role in the history of pigments and painting materials. This lesson explores the presence of lead in traditional pigments, the most important and ubiquitous being lead white.
Objectives
- Recognize the historical significance of lead-based pigments in art.
- Identify common lead-containing pigments and their compositions.
Materials
- Pure lead sample (cube) for spectral analysis.
- Samples of lead-based pigments from Pigments Checker STANDARD: Lead White, Red Lead (Minium), Massicot, Lead Tin Yellow (Types I and II), Naples Yellow, and Chrome Yellow.
- Example paintings before 1930′.
Lesson Plan
- Introduction to Lead in Art
- Discuss the prevalence of lead in historical paintings, focusing on its use in pigments like Lead White and its role in the ground layer.
- Highlight the decline in lead usage after the 1930s due to toxicity concerns.
- Overview of Lead-Based Pigments
- Describe the chemical composition of key pigments: Lead White (basic lead carbonate), Red Lead (lead oxide), Massicot, Lead Tin Yellow (Types I and II), Naples Yellow (lead antimonate), and Chrome Yellow (lead chromate).
- Spectral Analysis of Lead
- Compare spectra of pure lead with lead-based pigments, noting overlapping peaks and distinguishing features from other elements (e.g., tin, antimony, chromium).
- Case Study: Analysis of Historical Paintings
- Review spectra from selected points on a painting (e.g., sky, drapery, and figure details).
