The most famous painting in the world. Mona Lisawhich gave rise to a number of mythologies and interpretations, made a new discovery, very toxic, since science, through research in Journal of the American Chemical Society showed that its author, Leonardo da Vinci, used toxic substances to dry it.
A new analysis published on October 11 shows that the paintings Mona Lisa And Last supper they contain mixture of toxic substances How lead oxide (PbO)which in turn led to the formation of a rare compound called plumbonacrite.
“An aura of mystery surrounded the paints and pigments in da Vinci’s studio, prompting scientists to scrutinize his writings and artwork for clues,” the American Chemical Society said in a statement about the discovery.
Many paintings from the early 1500s, including the Mona Lisa, were painted on wood panels and required a thick “ground coat” of paint to be applied before the artwork was added. Scientists have discovered that while other artists often used gesso, da Vinci experimented with applying thick layers of lead pigment and infusing his oil paint with lead oxide, an orange pigment that gave the paint above special drying properties. He used a similar technique on the wall below the Last Supper, which differed from the traditional fresco technique used at the time. To further investigate these unique layers, Victor Gonzalez and his colleagues wanted to apply updated high-resolution analytical techniques to small samples of these two paintings.
The team analyzed a small “micro-sample” previously obtained from a hidden corner of the Mona Lisa, as well as 17 micro-samples obtained from the entire surface of the Last Supper. Using X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy, they determined that the soil layers of these works of art contained not only petroleum and lead white, but also a much rarer lead compound: plumbonacrite (Pb5(KO3)UN)2).
Although artists were known to add lead oxides to pigments to help them dry, this technique had not been experimentally tested on paintings from Da Vinci’s time. In fact, when researchers looked through his work, the only evidence they found about PbO was in skin and hair care products, even though it is now known to be highly toxic.
Source: Digital Trends
I am Garth Carter and I work at Gadget Onus. I have specialized in writing for the Hot News section, focusing on topics that are trending and highly relevant to readers. My passion is to present news stories accurately, in an engaging manner that captures the attention of my audience.
