Scientists at oil company Shell have been drafted in by the National Gallery to find the best way to stop priceless paintings from degrading.
Using methods from the oil industry, they are examining molecules in paint to establish how they fade, in a collaboration which is part of Shell’s sponsorship of Rembrandt: The Late Works Exhibition, which opens at the gallery on Wednesday.
Experts hope to reveal why a red pigment called Brazilwood Lake fades more quickly than other colours. It was commonly used in 17th-century oil paintings, such as Portrait of Frederik Rihel, by Dutch artist Rembrandt van Rijn and a liquid chromatograph mass spectrometer at the Shell Technology Centre in Amsterdam is being used to analyse the pigment’s components.
Wim Genuit, senior scientist at Shell, said: “Uncovering the secrets hidden within these magnificent canvases is an exciting challenge. I hope we can find out how to preserve them for future generations to enjoy.”
Rembrandt: The Late Works is at the National Gallery from October 15 until January 18.
