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Pigment Degradation in Oil Paint Induced by Indoor Climate: Comparison of Visual and Computational Backscattered Electron Images

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 February 2016

Katrien Keune ,
Rick P. Kramer ,
Zara Huijbregts ,
Henk L. Schellen ,
Marc H.L. Stappers  and
Margriet H. van Eikema Hommes
Katrien Keune*
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Materials Science, Materials in Art and Archaeology, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 2, 2628 CD Delft, The Netherlands Van ‘t Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands Conservation and Restoration, Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, PO BOX 74888, 1070 DN Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Rick P. Kramer
Affiliation:
Department of the Built Environment, Eindhoven University of Technology, Den Dolech 2, 5612 AZ Eindhoven, The Netherlands
Zara Huijbregts
Affiliation:
Department of the Built Environment, Eindhoven University of Technology, Den Dolech 2, 5612 AZ Eindhoven, The Netherlands
Henk L. Schellen
Affiliation:
Department of the Built Environment, Eindhoven University of Technology, Den Dolech 2, 5612 AZ Eindhoven, The Netherlands
Marc H.L. Stappers
Affiliation:
Cultural Heritage Agency of The Netherlands, Smallepad 5, 3811 MG Amersfoort, The Netherlands
Margriet H. van Eikema Hommes
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Materials Science, Materials in Art and Archaeology, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 2, 2628 CD Delft, The Netherlands Cultural Heritage Agency of The Netherlands, Hobbemastraat 22, 1071 ZC Amsterdam, The Netherlands
*
*Corresponding author. k.keune@rijksmuseum.nl
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Abstract

For the first time the degradation of lead white pigment in mature oil paint has been used as an internal marker for the degree of saponification and hence chemical degradation of oil paint. Computational image analysis of the backscattered electron images quantified the degree of the intact lead white pigment versus the nonpigmented and lead-rich areas (degraded lead white) in the paint layers. This new methodology was applied to a series of paint samples taken from four painted wall hangings (dated 1778), which makes it possible to study the influence of indoor climate on chemical degradation of aged oil paintings. The visual interpretation and computational image analysis of the backscattered electron images revealed clear trends. The highest degree of lead white degradation in the room was found in samples from the north wall close to the windows, whereas degradation diminished further away from the window. Lead white from the south wall was less degraded, but showed a similar trend as in the paintings on the north wall. These results imply a strong relationship between chemical degradation of paint and location of the paint in the room.

Keywords

lead soapindoor climatepigment degradationcomputational image analysisscanning electron microscopy
Type
Materials Applications
Information
Microscopy and Microanalysis , Volume 22 , Issue 2 , April 2016 , pp. 448 - 457
Copyright
© Microscopy Society of America 2016 

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