THE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS

OF ARTWORK
Zeynep AKI

16037826

Supervised by Michelle Carlin

Working with Conservation

 PAINTINGS
Ground • Foundation layer for
layers of paint.
Layer • Can vary in colour

• Pigment-provides colour
Paint • Binder-binds pigment
particles together

• Enhances colours
Varnish • Provides protection
 Table1.Examples of primary Pigments1

PAINT

Table2.Examples of typical Extenders1

 Case 1 – Working with Rachel Vella

OBJECTIVES Landscape Painting by Unknown Artist

16.8x13 inches

Timeframe?
• Establish possible timeframes for the layers of paint on the painting.

Overpainted?
• Analysis to establish if the painting was done on an other painting.

Pigments and Binders?

• Analysis to be done to provide a list of pigments and binders used.

Varnish?
• Analysis to establish the type of varnish.

Drying Oil?
• Analysis to establish if drying oils has been used.
 Case 2 – Working with Megan Arch

OBJECTIVES
Continued
Paintings of a Male and a Female by
Florence Lily Horsfield-Muir
Both 30x15 inches

Timeframe?
• Analysis to establish if both paintings were done around the same
timeframe.
Pigments and Binders?
• Analysis to be done to provide a list of pigments and binders used.

Varnish?
• Analysis to establish if the paintings have been retouched as it’s
suspected that the varnish does not match throughout the painting.
Drying Oil?
• Analysis to establish if drying oils has been used.
METHODOLOGY
Cross
GC-MS
Section

FTIR SEM-EDX
 CROSS SECTION
As paint has been industrialised modern paint is homogeneous
whereas in the past artists used to make their own paint, there would
be traces of pigments that has not been mixed well. Cross section
analysis allows to visualise the homogeneity of the paint.

Moreover, cross section analysis also allows to visualise the layers of

paint to establish if the painting has been painted over in a different
timeframe than the original.
 Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR)
Spectroscopy
FTIR has been used for pigment analysis and resin analysis.2

FTIR analysis measures the range of wavelengths in the infrared region that are
absorbed by a material. This is accomplished through the application of infrared
radiation (IR) to samples of a material. The sample’s absorbance of the infrared
light’s energy at various wavelengths is measured to determine the material’s
molecular composition and structure.3

In simpler words, FTIR not only

allows us to determine functional
groups and compare with the
results for standard pigments and
binders but also allows us to
establish the existence or absence
of drying oils.
 Gas chromatography-Mass spectrometry
(GC MS)
GC-MS can be used for pigment analysis, media analysis (for drying oils, proteins
etc.) or as Pyrolysis (pyGC-MS) GC-MS (for polymers and modern pigments).

The GC vaporizes the injected sample and separates the various components.
Each of the components in the sample generates a specific peak which is recorded
along with its retention time. MS identifies substances by electrically charging the
sample's molecules, breaking the molecules into charged fragments, accelerating
them through a magnetic field, and detecting the different fragments.4

Combined, the results will show mass and relative amount of each fragment in the
compound which can be utilized by comparing to reference data for identification.5
 Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-rays

(SEM-EDX)
Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) provides a high resolution, high magnification
image of a sample material whereas the energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) instrument
collects the x-rays and converts them into useful information. As each element has
a set of characteristic x-ray lines, this method can be used to identify elements that
are present and measure the composition of the sample material.6

Therefore allowing identification of pigments and binders.

GANTT CHART
 REFERENCES
1. Paint and surface coatings. Elsevier Science; 1999. Available from:
http://www.totalboox.com/book/id-4139814484274509252
2. Hayes PA, Vahur S, Leito I. ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and quantitative multivariate
analysis of paints and coating materials. Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and
Biomolecular Spectroscopy. 2014 Dec;133:207–13.
3. Griffiths PR, De Haseth JA. Fourier transform infrared spectrometry. 2nd ed.
Hoboken, N.J: Wiley-Interscience; 2007. 529 p. (Chemical analysis).
4. Sparkman OD, Penton ZE. Gas chromatography and mass spectrometry a practical
guide. San Diego, CA, USA: Elsevier Science & Technology Books; Available from:
http://international.scholarvox.com/book/88812116
5. Hites RA. Development of gas chromatographic mass spectrometry. Analytical
Chemistry. 2016 Jul 19;88(14):6955–61.
6. Goldstein JI, Newbury DE, Echlin P, Joy DC, Lyman CE, Lifshin E, et al. Scanning
electron microscopy and x-ray microanalysis [Internet]. Boston, MA: Springer US; 2003.
Available from: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/978-1-4615-0215-9