X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy on Van Gogh

Synopsis

High-powered synchrotron-based X-rays can detect metallic components in materials including paint. X-ray related techniques have been used to reveal that under many famous paintings there is another painting painted by the artist. In this particular research [1] X-ray fluorescence elemental mapping has been used to reveal that a woman’s portrait has been hidden under the painting titled “Patch of Grass” by Van Gogh. In this technique X-ray radiation interacts with core electrons of atoms kicking them out. During the relaxation process a photon is released that is unique to a particular atom and reveals the material content of the sample. Metallic materials like Hg and Sb have been mapped on the surface of the painting which respectively correspond to red and yellow paint. Also, detection of Fe, Ca and C shows that Van Gogh’s palette was fairly dark.

[1] Joris Dik, Koen Janssens, Geert Van Der Snickt, Luuk van der Loeff, Karen Rickers and Marine Cotte, Visualization of a Lost Painting by Vincent van Gogh Using Synchrotron Radiation Based X-ray Fluorescence Elemental Mapping, Analytical Chemistry, 2004