Unveiling Harriet Backer: ICP–OES study for the characterisation of the colour tubes from her original paint box

Abstract

Micro-samples from 57 original paint tubes used between 1904 and 1909 by the Norwegian painter, Harriet Backer were studied with inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). This accurate elemental characterisation of Backer's original materials aims to fill several gaps in conservation science, painting conservation, and art technology. Firstly, it provides a novel and validated analytical method that can be applied to other painting materials. Secondly, ICP-OES offers scientific information about different oil colours from the late 19th to the early 20th century by Dr. Schoenfeld & Co., Düsseldorf, currently known as Lukas-Nerchau, whose archives were depleted during the Second World War. This work also lends new insights into the paintings of a renowned female Norwegian artist, whose painting materials have been little studied to date. ICP-OES results, coupled with a comprehensive, illustrated catalogue of paint tubes, will be instrumental for ongoing scientific investigations of this painter's body of work.

The kinetics of metal soap crystallization in oil polymers

“… 10–15 In oil paintings, the most common metals involved in metal soap formation are lead (usually derived from hydrocerussite, minium or litharge pigments/driers) and zinc (derived from zinc oxide pigments), but calcium, copper and potassium soaps have been reported as well. 11,16,17 Linseed oil is a common drying oil used as a paint binder that can supply saturated fatty acids for metal soap formation.…”

Chemistry for cultural heritage: connecting past and future

“…Albrecht et al [6] used the quantitative elemental analysis of the ground layer composition of 39 paintings and PCA analysis for an in-depth technical and art historical research of Jan Steen's oeuvre. Caruso et al [7] brought new insights into the paintings of Harriet Backer by characterising the oil colour tubes from her original painting box using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Petroviciu et al [8] applied liquid chromatography with UV-Vis and mass spectrometric detection (LC-DAD-MS) to identify the dyes and their biological sources from Transylvanian ethnographic textiles from the nineteenth to twentieth century and compared the results obtained with the information from a collection of recipes published by the Romanian Academy in 1914.…”