Case study: Formation of calcium soaps in paint layers

Project description

In our examination of the painting Autumn landscape by Cuno Amiet (1906, oil on canvas), we have reported for the first time the formation of calcium soaps in a painting. The soaps were characterised by multiple analytical techniques, namely FTIR, CI-DTMS, and GCMS, and by 2D and 3D correlative microscopy combining light microscopy, SEM-EDX and SRXTM data. Based on all the data gathered we could propose a reaction path.
Synchrotron radiation x-ray microtomography (SRXTM) played a crucial role in this study. Information concerning the porosity of the ground layer, the location of early reactivity sites at the interface between the ground and the paint layers as well as the overall appearance of large protruding masses of white material were fundamental in the development and support of a hypothesis for the reactivity mechanism.

The SRXTM orthoslices show an early calcium soap formation site at the interface between ground and paint as well as the extremely porous nature of the ground.

Movie showing details of location and morphology of a calcium soap formation site at the interface between ground and paint.

The project was supported by

Swiss Re, Zürich

Publication

Ferreira E. S. B, Boon J. J., Marone F., Stampanoni M., «Study of the mechanism of formation of calcium soaps in an early 20th century easel painting with correlative 2D and 3D microscopy», in: Proceedings of the 16th Triennial meeting of the ICOM Committee for Conservation in Lisbon, James & James 2011