Journal article
Full spectral XANES imaging using the Maia detector array as a new tool for the study of the alteration process of chrome yellow pigments in paintings by Vincent van Gogh
L Monico, K Janssens, M Alfeld, M Cotte, F Vanmeert, CG Ryan, G Falkenberg, DL Howard, BG Brunetti, C Miliani
Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry | ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY | Published : 2015
DOI: 10.1039/c4ja00419a
Abstract
A combination of synchrotron radiation (SR) micro X-ray fluorescence (μ-XRF) and XRF mode X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) measurements at the Cr K-edge already allowed us to establish that the photo-reduction of chromates to Cr(iii) compounds is the cause of darkening of chrome yellow pigments (PbCr1-xSxO4, 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.8) in a number of paintings by Vincent van Gogh and in corresponding artificially aged paint models. A silicon drift detector (SDD) was employed to record the Cr-K XRF radiation in these X-ray micro beam-based measurements. However, in view of the limited count rate capabilities and collection solid angle of a single device, μ-XRF and μ-XANES employing single elemen..
View full abstractGrants
Awarded by Interuniversity Attraction Poles Programme - Belgian Science Policy
Awarded by FWO (Brussels, Belgium)
Awarded by ESRF
Awarded by DESY
Funding Acknowledgements
This research was supported by the Interuniversity Attraction Poles Programme - Belgian Science Policy (S2-ART project S4DA), GOA "SOLARPAINT" (Research Fund University of Antwerp, Belgium) and FWO (Brussels, Belgium) project no. G.0C12.13, G.0704.08 and G.01769.09. Support from the Italian projects PRIN (SICH Sustainability in Cultural Heritage: from diagnosis to the development of innovative system for consolidation, cleaning and protection) and PON (ITACHA Italian advanced technologies for cultural heritage applications) is also acknowledged. For the grants received thanks are expressed to ESRF (experiments EC-799, EC-1051) and DESY (experiment H-20000043). Part of this research was undertaken at the XFM beamline at the Australian Synchrotron, Victoria, Australia (experiment M4604). LM acknowledges the CNR for the financial support received in the framework of the Short Term Mobility Programme 2013. Thanks are expressed to Ella Hendriks (Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam), Muriel Geldof (Cultural Heritage Agency of The Netherlands) and Margje Leeuwestein (Kroller-Muller Museum, Otterlo) for selecting and sharing the information on the cross-section taken from the paintings The Bedroom and Falling Leaves (Les Alyscamps). All the staff of the Van Gogh Museum and the Kroller-Muller Museum are acknowledged for their agreeable cooperation.