A team of researchers were able to find the presence of a rare compound in the famous Mona Lisa painting of Leonardo da Vinci.
Hidden Toxic Pigment in Mona Lisa Painting
Researchers from the UK and France examined a tiny microsample that was retrieved from a hidden corner of the Mona Lisa painting. They then used different imaging techniques of infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction to pinpoint the used substances.
Doing so enabled the team to find oil and lead white, which was expected. However, they also observed a rare compound known as plumbonacrite (Pb5(CO3)3O(OH)2). This compound forms when both lead(II) oxide (PbO) and oil react together. This suggests that the former compound could have been used by the famous artist.
The researchers explain in their paper that da Vinci could have opted for thick paint to cover the Mona Lisa's wooden panel by treating the oil with high PbO loads.
It is believed that the PbO may have been heated and dissolved in nut or linseed oil. This may have produced a thicker and faster-drying mixture compared to typical oil paints that other artists used.
Also Observed in Other Famous Artworks
This PbO compound was also observed in several other microsamples retrieved from The Last Supper's surface, which is another famous painting made by the artist. It is notable, however, that the only PbO references in the writings of the artist were associated with hair and skin remedies.
Though painters were known to include lead oxides to help them with drying, the technique remained experimentally unproven for paintings during the time of da Vinci.
Though this was not covered in his writings, it appears that da Vinci could have used the compound to serve as a ground layer. While this was something that was previously hypothesized, researchers now have more evidence regarding the notion. The findings show that lead oxides could have played a role in the palette of the famous artist and could have helped him come up with great masterpieces the world has heard of today.
Interestingly, the plumbonacrite substance was also observed in the famous The Night Watch painting of Rembrandt that dates back to 1642, roughly one and a half centuries after the Mona Lisa. This shows that this Dutch artist could have employed a technique that is similar to that of da Vinci's.
The discovery shows how modern-day techniques for analysis could shed new light on historical artifacts. Previously, advanced 3D rendering was employed to study Salvator Mundi, which is another painting of da Vinci.
The findings also show how inventive and innovative Leonardo da Vinci was. He was someone who reached greatness not just in art but also in other fields, including engineering, chemistry, and mathematics.
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