- Recognize the historical significance of lead-based pigments in art.
- Identify common lead-containing pigments and their compositions.
- 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′.
- 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).
To reinforce the concepts discussed here, we also provide a video lesson that visually walks through the key points of this topic. Watching the video alongside the text can help you better understand and apply these ideas in practice.
The course XRF Spectroscopy for Art Examination introduces conservators, art historians, and scientists with interest in Art to the principles and practical applications of X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy in the examination of artworks. The course starts with basic principles of XRF and gradually explores its role in identifying materials and methods used in the creation and conservation of art.
Course Objectives
- Understand the fundamentals of XRF spectroscopy and how it applies to the analysis of art.
- Learn the key features and limitations of XRF for examining art and archaeology.
- Gain skills in interpreting XRF spectra to identify specific elements in paint layers, inks and metals.
Scientific Art Examination – Resources:
Getty Conservation Institute (GCI) – USA
The British Museum – Scientific Research Department – UK
Scientific Research Department – The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA
C2RMF (Centre de Recherche et de Restauration des Musées de France) – France
Rijksmuseum – Science Department – Netherlands
