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French researchers unveil secrets of Leonardo Da Vinci’s painting technique
by Priyanka - July 17, 2010 - comments
Lead researcher Walter concluded that their analysis of Da Vinci’s work also showed that Leonardo constantly tried out new methods.
A team of French researchers, after extensively researching genius Leonardo Da Vinci’s masterpiece Mona Lisa, have discovered how the genius used the 16-century mysterious shading technique named “sfumato,” which gave his work foggy dream like quality.
As per researchers, this technique “sfumato” allowed the genius to give outlines and contours a hazy quality that in turn created the illusion of depth and shadow.
The study on Leonardo’s painting technique was led by Philippe Walter, a senior scientist at the Paris-based Laboratoire du Centre de Recherche et de Restauration des Musees de France.
"This will help us to understand how Da Vinci made his materials... the amount of oil that was mixed with pigments, the nature of the organic materials, it will help art historians,” said Walter in an interview.
The findings by the team have been published in the journal of the German Chemicla Society titled 'Angewandte Chemie.'
Walter’s team conducted the study at Louvre Museum in Paris and other Da Vinci paintings that they analyzed for their research included Virgin of the Rocks, Annunciation, Saint John the Baptist, Bacchus, Belle Ferronnière, the Virgin and the Child and Saint Anne.
About the research conducted on Da Vinci’s work
In the research, Philippe Walter and his colleagues used non-destructive X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry to study the immaculate shading on Mona Lisa’s face that had not even left brush strokes on the painting.
As per researchers, this technique “sfumato” allowed the genius to give outlines and contours a hazy quality that in turn created the illusion of depth and shadow.
According to a news story run by the BBC News recently, "Their investigation describes the ultra-thin layers of glaze and pigment used to achieve seamless transitions from light to dark... The scientists were able to detail the different recipes used by the master to make the shadows in the faces. These recipes were characterized by a technique--the use of glaze layers or a very thin paint--and by the nature of the pigments or additives.
"It is clear from the analysis that Da Vinci was able to apply glazes in layers just a couple micrometers (thousandths of a millimeter) thick, building up to a total thickness of no more than 30 to 40 micrometres."
Lead researcher Walter concluded that their analysis of Da Vinci’s work also showed that Leonardo constantly tried out new methods.
About Leonardo’s famous Mona Lisa painting
Mona Lisa (also known as La Gioconda/La Joconde) is a well-known portray by famous Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci during the Renaissance.
The painting, which is not just popular worldwide but had been described by the genius himself as one of his best work, is speculated to be the portrait of Lisa Gherardini, wife of Francesco del Giocondo.
However, till date no one has succeeded in deciphering the meaning behind her slight mysterious smile.