Science Current Events | Science News | Brightsurf.com
 
Email a Friend Send to a friend
Printer Friendly Print Investigating the techniques of Old Masters

Investigating the techniques of Old Masters

June 24, 2002

Why do the colours in some of Van Gogh's paintings change? How did he mix his paint? The new De Mayerne research programme is investigating molecular changes due to the ageing of paintings, artist's techniques and the effects of previous restorations.

The De Mayerne research programme concentrates on the works of Dutch painters from the 15th to the 20th century, such as Rembrandt and Van Gogh. In the research programme, art historians, chemists and physicists are working together with various museums, including the Van Gogh Museum, the Mauritshuis and the Rijksmuseum. The Tate Gallery in London and the ETH (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) in Zurich are also participating in the project.




The interdisciplinary cooperation within the research programme is expressed in research into artist's techniques and studio practices. Research into historical sources is combined with analytical research on the surface of the objects. Also the research into ageing processes and the effects of restoration procedures requires an art history contribution in addition to more fundamental chemical and physical research into changes due to the ageing of components in the paint and varnish.

In January 2002, five new projects started within this research programme. One of the projects concerns the paint used by Van Gogh. Some of his paintings suffer from serious discoloration. In Van Gogh's time the first industrial paints were marketed. These suppressed the paints made in the studio. Not only his paintings are being studied but also letters in which he describes his painting technique. Another project is concentrating on the 17th century painter's group in the Orange Room of the Royal Palace Huis ten Bosch. These paintings have been exceptionally well preserved and all previous restorations have been documented. A third project is the reconstruction of oil paints from the 17th and 19th centuries. The imitated paints can serve as reference material for research into aged paint layers. Another research project has shown that lead, always present in older paints, has in many cases led to discoloration, in which the clear lead-white becomes dull. Similar problems are also found with other metals. A fifth project concentrates on cross-sections of paintings. This will provide information about the chemical interaction between the various paint layers as well as information about painters' techniques.

The projects are being carried out by various research institutes, including the Institute for Atomic and Molecular Physics (AMOLF), the Canadian Conservation Institute, the Netherlands Institute for Cultural Heritage, Leiden University, and various museums including the Van Gogh Museum, the Rijksmuseum and the Mauritshuis. The Limburg Conservation Institute is also participating in the project.

NWO (Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research)



Science Research Departments



Earth Science

Alternative Energy  |   Anthropology and Archaeology  |   Earthquakes and Volcanoes  |   Environment and Nature News  |   Global Warming  |   High-Energy and Particle Physics  |   Ozone Hole  |   Scientists Slow Light  |   Tsunami


Space Science

Astronomy and Space News  |   Black Holes  |   Chandra X-Ray Observatory  |   Extrasolar Planets  |   Hubble Telescope  |   International Space Station  |   Jupiter Galileo Mission  |   Jupiter Cassini Mission Flyby  |   Mars Exploration  |   Mars Odyssey 2001  |   Mars Global Surveyor  |   Mars Polar Lander  |   Mars Climate Orbiter  |   Mars Pathfinder  |   Meteors and Asteroids  |   Mir Space Station  |   NEAR Asteroid Probe Mission  |   Pluto Planet Debate |   Search for Extraterrestrial Life  |   Space Shuttle Program  |   Space Shuttle Mission: STS-102  |   Space Weather


Life Science

Animal News  |   Biotechnology and Genetics  |   Brain Research  |   Human Cloning  |   Dinosaur and Fossil Discoveries  |   Endangered Species  |   Gene Therapy  |   Genetically Modified Food  |   Stem Cell Research  |   Whales and Whaling
Scientific Explorer's Mind Blowing Science Kit for Young Scientists

Scientific Explorer's Mind Blowing Science Kit for Young Scientists
by Scientific Explorer

Mind blowing experiments to delight and educate young scientists! Erupt a color changing volcano.  Mix up magic ooze with a mind of its own.  Play with sand that never gets wet.  Mix safe chemicals and watch colors change before your eyes. You'll amaze yourself and your friends as you explore the science behind these truly remarkable reactions.



The Everything Kids' Science Experiments Book: Boil Ice, Float Water, Measure Gravity-Challenge the World Around You! (Everything Kids Series)

The Everything Kids' Science Experiments Book: Boil Ice, Float Water, Measure Gravity-Challenge the World Around You! (Everything Kids Series)
by Tom Robinson (Author)

Science has never been so easy - or so much fun! With The Everything Kids' Science Experiments Book, all you need to do is gather a few household items and you can recreate dozens of mind-blowing, kid-tested science experiments. High school science teach Tom Robinson shows you how to expand your scientific horizons - from biology to chemistry to physics to outer space.

You'll discover answers to questions like:
Is it possible to blow up a balloon without actually blowing into it?
What is inside coins?
Can a magnet ever be "turned off"?
Do toilets always flush in the same direction?
Can a swimming pool be cleaned with just the breath of one person?

Get ready to enter the laboratory and learn how to conduct cool experiments, understand scientific terms...

Scientific Explorer's Disgusting Science - A Kit for Studying the Science of Revolting Things

Scientific Explorer's Disgusting Science - A Kit for Studying the Science of Revolting Things
by Scientific Explorer

Grow your own friendly germs and fuzzy molds. Mix up a batch of coagulating fake blood. Even make a stinky intestine. learn the science behind unmentionable bodily functions while doing some truly NASTY Experiments.  Ages 8+



The Science Book: Everything You Need to Know About the World and How It Works (National Geographic)

The Science Book: Everything You Need to Know About the World and How It Works (National Geographic)
by National Geographic (Author), Marshall Brain (Foreword)

A delight for the casual reader, yet so complete and wide-ranging that science buffs and students will welcome it, The Science Book encapsulates centuries of scientific thought in one richly illustrated volume. Natural phenomena, revolutionary inventions, and the most up-to-date investigations are explained in detailed text, and 2,000 vivid illustrations—including 3-D graphics and pictograms—make the information even more accessible and amazing to discover.

The Science Book offers both a general overview of topics for the browsing reader and more specific information for those seeking deeper insight into a particular subject. Six major sections, ranging from the universe and planet Earth to biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics, encompass everything from microscopic life...

Scientific Explorer's The Magic Science Wizard's Kit

Scientific Explorer's The Magic Science Wizard's Kit
by Scientific Explorer

Cast real smoke from your fingertips, make a wizard wand, and whip up color-changing potions in your test tube laboratory. Also included are laminated cards with wizard facts, an instruction booklet with 11 activities, lab equipment, and mysterious wizard powders that will mix together to mystify you!



Snap Circuits Jr. SC-100

Snap Circuits Jr. SC-100
by Elenco Electronics Inc

Dr. Toy 100 Best Children's Products Winner We venture even Edison would be intrigued. Prepare to engineer 101 exciting, useful electronic gadgets & play lively electronic games with Snap Circuits Jr! This kit features a great collection of materials! The colorful and easy-to-follow format of the instruction manual makes circuit assembly stress-free and fun. All projects are simple to build and understand. Perfect for the novice engineer. All parts are mounted on plastic modules and snap together with ease. Leave the tools in the garage; everything you need for your electronics learning adventure is included. With Snap Circuits Jr. your understanding of electronics is a SNAP! 101 High Interest Projects Just a few: Flying Saucer, Music Alarm Combo, Pencil Alarm, Space...

Science: The Definitive Visual Guide

Science: The Definitive Visual Guide
by Adam Hart-Davis (Author)

This remarkable reference book tells the story of science from earliest times to the present day, taking in everything from ancient Greek geometry to quantum physics, and the wedge to the worldwide web. Exploring science in a thematic, highly approachable manner, each spread takes as its theme a specific event, discovery, invention, experiment, theory, or individual and explains why this subject was so significant in the development of scientific thought and what its impact on history has been. In addition to providing a broad-ranging and comprehensive history of science, the book also explains how science works, employing DK's trademark clarity and visual ingenuity to render tricky scientific subjects easily comprehensible.

Science is structured chronologically with five...

Magic School Bus Journey into the Human Body Science Kit

Magic School Bus Journey into the Human Body Science Kit
by Young Scientist Club

The Magic School Bus and Ms. Frizzle take Young Scientists on a wild ride into the human body with these breathtaking experiments. Young Scientists bend bones, make joints, map taste buds, expand lungs, build a stethoscope, measure lung capacities and heart rates, perform the iodine starch test, spin glitter, simulate synovial fluid, create a human body poster, and much, much more! This exciting kit includes a life-size poster with eight sheets of body part stickers. So put on your seat belts, students, and get ready to discover The Human Body!

Scientific Explorer's Tasty Science Chemistry in the Kitchen Kit

Scientific Explorer's Tasty Science Chemistry in the Kitchen Kit
by Scientific Explorer

Who knew science could taste so good? With this kit, you’ll whip up cupcakes, cookies, candy, and more—all in the name of science! Learn what makes cakes rise, candy crystallize, and more real chemistry happen in the kitchen. Tasty Science is packed with ingredients, recipes, activity cards, a test tube laboratory, and lots more to explore the science of taste.



The Complete Book of Science, Grades 5-6

The Complete Book of Science, Grades 5-6
by School Specialty Publishing (Author)

The Complete Book of Science for grades 5 to 6 teaches children important science skills!

Children complete a variety of exercises that help them develop a number of skills in this 352 page workbook. Including a complete answer key this workbook features a user-friendly format perfect for browsing, research, and review.

Over 4 million in print! The best-selling Complete Book series offers a full complement of instruction, activities, and information about a single topic or subject area. Containing over 30 titles and encompassing preschool to grade 8 this series helps children succeed in every subject area!

...

© 2009 BrightSurf.com