Repository logo
 

Discovery of pararealgar and semi-amorphous pararealgar in Rembrandt's The Night Watch: analytical study and historical contextualization

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Repository DOI


Change log

Authors

De Keyser, N 
Broers, FTH 
Vanmeert, F 
van Loon, A 
Gabrieli, F 

Abstract

jats:titleAbstract</jats:title>jats:pThis article reports on the discovery of pararealgar and semi-amorphous pararealgar in Rembrandt's masterpiece jats:italicThe Night Watch</jats:italic>. A large-scale research project named jats:italicOperation Night Watch</jats:italic> was started in 2019jats:italic.</jats:italic> A variety of non-invasive analytical imaging techniques, together with paint sample research, has provided new information about Rembrandt's pigments, materials, and techniques as well as the current condition of the painting. Macroscopic X-ray fluorescence, macroscopic X-ray powder diffraction and reflectance imaging spectroscopy identified the presence of arsenic sulfide pigments and degradation products of these pigments in the doublet sleeves and embroidered buff coat worn by Lieutenant Willem van Ruytenburch (central figure to the right of Captain Frans Banninck Cocq). Examination by light microscopy of two paint samples taken from this area shows a mixture of large sharp-edged tabular yellow and orange to red pigment particles, and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray analysis identified these particles as containing arsenic and sulfur. Using micro-Raman spectroscopy, the yellow particles were identified as pararealgar, and the orange to red particles as semi-amorphous pararealgar. Synchrotron-based X-ray diffraction allowed visualization of the presence of multiple degradation products associated with arsenic sulfides throughout the paint layer. The discovery of pararealgar and semi-amorphous pararealgar is a new addition to Rembrandt's pigment palette. To contextualize our findings and to hypothesize why, how, and where Rembrandt obtained the pigments, we studied related historical sources. A comprehensive review of historical sources gives insight into the types of artificial arsenic sulfides that were available and suggests that a broader range of arsenic pigments could have been available in Amsterdam in the seventeenth century than previously thought. This is supported by the use of a very similar mixture of pigments by Willem Kalf (1619–1693), a contemporary artist based in Amsterdam. Together with the condition of the particles in the paint cross sections, this brings us to the conclusion that Rembrandt intentionally used pararealgar and semi-amorphous pararealgar, together with lead–tin yellow and vermilion, to create an orange paint.</jats:p>

Description

Acknowledgements: Susan Smelt and Anna Krekeler are acknowledged for their help in the collection of MA-XRF scans. Robert Erdmann is acknowledged for the execution, processing, stitching and registration of the 5-μm photography of The Night Watch[75]. Leila Sauvage is acknowledged for her help with the execution of the 5-μm photography. Arie Wallert is acknowledged for the sampling and embedding of paint sample SK-A-199_R9/4. Marine Cotte is acknowledged for help during the BAG beamtime at ESRF. Ken Vidar Falch and Jan Garrevoet are acknowledged for their help during the beamtime at DESY. We would like to thank Günter Grundmann for an insightful discussion regarding pararealgar and amorphous arsenic sulfides. Team Operation Night Watch is thanked for their collaboration and input during this research.

Keywords

4302 Heritage, Archive and Museum Studies, 43 History, Heritage and Archaeology

Journal Title

Heritage Science

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2050-7445
2050-7445

Volume Title

12

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Sponsorship
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (628.007.031)
Horizon 2020 (870313)
Horizon 2020 Framework Programme (730872)