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ResourceChemistry and Art: Venice: The Stonemason's Yard
In this picture we find an early use of a newly synthesised colour - Prusslan blue.
ResourceChemistry and Art: The Virgin and Child before a Firescreen
The cleaning of this painting presented particular problems as two sections had been added, probably in the 19th century.
ResourceChemistry and Art: Winter Landscape
Scientific examination of this painting and its apparent ‘twin’ in Dortmund has given clear indications as to which one is the original.
ResourceChemistry and Art: Saint John the Baptist
This painting is a good example of the use of egg tempera paint and gilding. When it was cleaned in 1981-2, the materials used were analysed, and some of the results are discussed.
ResourceChemistry and Art: The Incredulity of Saint Thomas
Possible poor workmanship on the original panel, combined with an immersion in the Grand Canal in Venice, led to more than 100 years of conservation problems with this painting.
ResourceChemistry and Art: Portrait of Alexander Mornauer
Additions and alterations to this picture may have been a deliberate attempt to make it look like the work of a famous artist and thereby increase its value.
ResourceChemistry and Art: Boating on the Seine
This artist had access to a wide range of new colours made by chemists in the 19th century.
ResourceChemistry and Art: An Experiment on a Bird
This large and dramatic painting shows an early scientific experiment in progress, and is included here more for the science in the painting than the science of making or conserving the painting.
ResourceChemistry and Art: Bacchus and Ariadne
It was not uncommon for canvas paintings to be rolled up for ease of transport. However, this painting seems to have been rolled the wrong way - with the paint on the inside. This led to problems of flaking. Its restoration gave opportunities to study Titian’s methods and materials.
ResourceChemistry and Art: An Allegorical Figure
X-ray photographs of this panel painting showed that there had been substantial changes to the composition made at an early stage. Were these by Tura, or was he painting over a picture made by someone else?
ResourceFaces of Chemistry – National Gallery
These videos look at how chemical techniques have helped solve the mystery of the Portrait of Alexander Mornauer.