Paint Your Palette Blue And Gray…
Who knew it was an automatic feature?
It’s been puzzling art curators and experts for a long time, but scientists at the University of Antwerp discovered the reason why some of van Gogh’s most prized works of art are turning white.
It’s the plumbonacrite!
Also known as red lead, plumbonacrite is suspected to be one of the first synthetically-made paints known to man, and van Gogh was a particular fan of the stuff. In many of his paintings he used bold colors — including the red hue — which apparently degrades like a Gobstopper candy when exposed to light.
Francesca Casadi, a conservation scientist with the Art Institute of Chicago, says “We have known for some time that some of the pigments that van Gogh used alter with time. But honestly I was quite surprised to find that the red lead the mineral pigment that typically is considered relatively stable also failed him.”
Casadi says that at the time many artists like van Gogh were swept up my the insdustrial revolution and it’s impact on the art world — like the manufacturing of paint.
“This is the time right after the industrial revolution when pigment was manufactured. You don’t have the work-ship or assistance grinding minerals and having all control on the production, you have the first industrial production. And I suspect that the failing of this red lead may have to do with something in the way it was produced.”
Much like the restorations of the frescoes in Italy it will be interesting to see what the paintings actually looked like when new.
(thanks to HotAir)
Life | Mr. Bingley | 
March 11, 2015 7:09 am
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We call dinner at the in laws red lead.