Scientists have finally resolved the mystery why the vibrant yellows in Vincent van Gogh’s paintings turned brown, according to a study published in the journal Analytical Chemistry, reported by AFP.
The degrading of van Gogh’s paintings was studied by an international team of scientists from Italy, Belgium, France and the Netherlands.
Their findings say that a super-sensitive microscopic X-ray has revealed a complax chemical reaction taking place where the paint meets the varnish, triggered by sunlight which causes yellow to fade.
Sunlight only penetrates a short distance into the paint, a few micrometers, but it is enough to start the chemical reaction that turns the bright chrome yellow into pigments of brown.
“This type of cutting edge research is crucial to advance our understanding of how paintings age and should be conserved for future generations,” said Ella Hendriks of the Van Gogh Museum Amsterdam.
Marine Cotte, a scientist with the research institute in Grenoble, said: “Our X-ray beam is 100 times thinner than a human hair, and it reveals subtle chemical processes over equally minuscule areas.
“Making this possible has opened the door to a whole new world of discovery for art historians and conservators.”
