New light on Leonardo Da Vinci’s faces

The results reveal that, in the case of glazes(1), thin layers of 1 to 2 micrometers have been applied. The study, led by the team of Philippe Walter, of the "Laboratoire du Centre de Recherche et de Restauration des Musées de France" (LC2RMF, CNRS/Ministère de la culture et de la communication), with the collaboration of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) and the support of the Louvre Museum, is published the 15 of July 2010 in the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition.

Leonardo Da Vinci's paintings fascinate, partly due to a range of subtle optical effects that blur outlines, soften transitions and blend shadows like smoke. Known as "sfumato," this technique is not only the result of the genius of the artist but also of technical innovations at the beginning of the 16th century. Minute observations, optical measurements and reconstitutions have already described the sfumato, but new analysis can confirm the procedure of this technique, especially related to how the gradation is done.

For the first time, Philippe Walter (LC2RMF) and his team, in collaboration with the ESRF and the Louvre Museum, have brought new insight on the sfumato thanks to a quantitative chemical study of the different painted layers. Seven paintings of Leonardo Da Vinci have been analysed without extraction, directly in the rooms of the Louvre Museum (Virgin of the Rocks, Mona Lisa, Saint John the Baptist, Annunciation, Bacchus, Belle Ferronnière, Saint Anne, the Virgin and the Child). The scientists concentrated on the study of the faces because they have the characteristics of the sfumato. They used a technique called X-ray fluorescence⁽²⁾ to determine the composition and thickness of each layer in nine faces (including Mona Lisa's) painted by Da Vinci throughout 40 years of career.

The scientists have also found different recipes used by Da Vinci to do the shadows on the faces. These recipes are characterized by a technique (the use of glaze layers or a very thin paint) and by the nature of the pigments or additives. In the case of the glazes, thin layers of 1 to 2 micrometres were applied to obtain a total thickness of no more than 30 to 40 micrometres. The results obtained in this study help to understand Da Vinci's search towards making his art look alive.

Philippe Walter, CNRS senior researcher, the LC2RMF director and co-author of this publication, was awarded the Franco-American Franklin-Lavoisier prize 2010 on 10 May, for his advances in the study, restoration and preservation of ancient artwork thanks, notably, to the use of state-of-the-art analytical techniques.

Notes:

(1) A glaze is a fine, translucid layer, mainly organic, which contains a little bit of pigment. The superposition of glazes allows the creation of depth and volume.

(2) X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy is a chemical analytical method. It consists of making lighter an area in a painting using X-rays. Later, the material emits other X-rays (fluorescence), which are characteristic of the studied area.