The Unexpected Discovery of Syngenite on Margarito d’Arezzo’s <i>The Virgin and Child Enthroned, with Scenes of the Nativity and the Lives of the Saints</i> (Probably 1263–4) and Its Possible Use as a Yellow Lake Substrate
The oldest painting in the National Gallery collection, <i>The Virgin and Child Enthroned</i> by Margarito d’Arezzo (NG564), dated to about 1263–4, depicts the Virgin and Child in a mandorla, surrounded by scenes of the Nativity and lives of the saints, set within red and decorative blac...
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MDPI AG
2023-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/6/2/41 |
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| author | David Peggie Helen Howard Jo Kirby Jens Najorka |
| author_facet | David Peggie Helen Howard Jo Kirby Jens Najorka |
| author_sort | David Peggie |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The oldest painting in the National Gallery collection, <i>The Virgin and Child Enthroned</i> by Margarito d’Arezzo (NG564), dated to about 1263–4, depicts the Virgin and Child in a mandorla, surrounded by scenes of the Nativity and lives of the saints, set within red and decorative black borders, against a gilded background. The materials and technique were investigated using a combination of non-invasive techniques, such as Fibre Optic Reflectance Spectroscopy (FORS) and macro X-ray fluorescence scanning (MA-XRF), and the analysis of a small number of paint samples using energy dispersive X-ray analysis in the scanning electron microscope (SEM-EDS), High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Attenuated Total Reflectance—Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and micro X-ray Diffraction (micro-XRD). The results provided evidence for the use of a number of organic colourants, with both indigo and red lake pigments identified. The finding of an unusual compound, syngenite (K<sub>2</sub>Ca(SO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>·H<sub>2</sub>O), is here postulated as a potential substrate for an organic yellow lake pigment. In addition, reference pigments were prepared to explore this hypothesis. Although documentary evidence confirms that yellow lakes were being produced from an early date, there is very little direct evidence for their use in 13th-century panel paintings. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:46:23Z |
| format | Article |
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| issn | 2571-9408 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:46:23Z |
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| spelling | doaj.art-e66bbe1f14534065b7cd89d9e726a47b2023-11-16T20:47:54ZengMDPI AGHeritage2571-94082023-01-016276277810.3390/heritage6020041The Unexpected Discovery of Syngenite on Margarito d’Arezzo’s <i>The Virgin and Child Enthroned, with Scenes of the Nativity and the Lives of the Saints</i> (Probably 1263–4) and Its Possible Use as a Yellow Lake SubstrateDavid Peggie0Helen Howard1Jo Kirby2Jens Najorka3Scientific Department, National Gallery, London WC2N 5DN, UKScientific Department, National Gallery, London WC2N 5DN, UKIndependent Researcher, London WC2N 5DN, UKNatural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, UKThe oldest painting in the National Gallery collection, <i>The Virgin and Child Enthroned</i> by Margarito d’Arezzo (NG564), dated to about 1263–4, depicts the Virgin and Child in a mandorla, surrounded by scenes of the Nativity and lives of the saints, set within red and decorative black borders, against a gilded background. The materials and technique were investigated using a combination of non-invasive techniques, such as Fibre Optic Reflectance Spectroscopy (FORS) and macro X-ray fluorescence scanning (MA-XRF), and the analysis of a small number of paint samples using energy dispersive X-ray analysis in the scanning electron microscope (SEM-EDS), High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Attenuated Total Reflectance—Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and micro X-ray Diffraction (micro-XRD). The results provided evidence for the use of a number of organic colourants, with both indigo and red lake pigments identified. The finding of an unusual compound, syngenite (K<sub>2</sub>Ca(SO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>·H<sub>2</sub>O), is here postulated as a potential substrate for an organic yellow lake pigment. In addition, reference pigments were prepared to explore this hypothesis. Although documentary evidence confirms that yellow lakes were being produced from an early date, there is very little direct evidence for their use in 13th-century panel paintings.https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/6/2/41syngeniteyellow lakesafflowerorganic colourants |
| spellingShingle | David Peggie Helen Howard Jo Kirby Jens Najorka The Unexpected Discovery of Syngenite on Margarito d’Arezzo’s <i>The Virgin and Child Enthroned, with Scenes of the Nativity and the Lives of the Saints</i> (Probably 1263–4) and Its Possible Use as a Yellow Lake Substrate Heritage syngenite yellow lake safflower organic colourants |
| title | The Unexpected Discovery of Syngenite on Margarito d’Arezzo’s <i>The Virgin and Child Enthroned, with Scenes of the Nativity and the Lives of the Saints</i> (Probably 1263–4) and Its Possible Use as a Yellow Lake Substrate |
| title_full | The Unexpected Discovery of Syngenite on Margarito d’Arezzo’s <i>The Virgin and Child Enthroned, with Scenes of the Nativity and the Lives of the Saints</i> (Probably 1263–4) and Its Possible Use as a Yellow Lake Substrate |
| title_fullStr | The Unexpected Discovery of Syngenite on Margarito d’Arezzo’s <i>The Virgin and Child Enthroned, with Scenes of the Nativity and the Lives of the Saints</i> (Probably 1263–4) and Its Possible Use as a Yellow Lake Substrate |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Unexpected Discovery of Syngenite on Margarito d’Arezzo’s <i>The Virgin and Child Enthroned, with Scenes of the Nativity and the Lives of the Saints</i> (Probably 1263–4) and Its Possible Use as a Yellow Lake Substrate |
| title_short | The Unexpected Discovery of Syngenite on Margarito d’Arezzo’s <i>The Virgin and Child Enthroned, with Scenes of the Nativity and the Lives of the Saints</i> (Probably 1263–4) and Its Possible Use as a Yellow Lake Substrate |
| title_sort | unexpected discovery of syngenite on margarito d arezzo s i the virgin and child enthroned with scenes of the nativity and the lives of the saints i probably 1263 4 and its possible use as a yellow lake substrate |
| topic | syngenite yellow lake safflower organic colourants |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2571-9408/6/2/41 |
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