MONA LISA PAINTING GIVES UP MORE SECRETS TO SCIENCE
Baku, July 15 (AZERTAC). The X-ray technique can see the different layers without lifting a sample from the canvas Science has pursued its fascination with the Mona Lisa once again, this time by applying X-ray techniques to understand the shadowing in her face.
The painting was one of seven Leonardo Da Vinci masterpieces investigated by Philippe Walter and colleagues.
Their investigation describes the ultra-thin layers of glaze and pigment used to achieve seamless transitions from light to dark.
The work is reported in the journal Angewandte Chemie.
It is said to provide new information on the technique known as "sfumato", which Da Vinci and other Renaissance painters used to produce delicate gradations in tones or colours across the canvas.
"One of the most striking things you will notice in front of one of these paintings is that you can`t see any brushstrokes, any fingerprints," observed co-researcher Dr Laurence de Viguerie.
The scientists were able to detail the different recipes used by the master to make the shadows in the faces. These recipes were characterised by a technique - the use of glaze layers or a very thin paint - and by the nature of the pigments or additives, they said.
It is clear from the analysis that Da Vinci was able to apply glazes in layers just a couple micrometres (thousandths of a millimetre) thick, building up to a total thickness of no more than 30 to 40 micrometres.
The study was conducted in the rooms of the Louvre Museum in Paris where the Mona Lisa is kept.
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