A holistic view on the role of egg yolk in Old Masters’ oil paints

Ophélie Ranquet (), Celia Duce, Emilia Bramanti, Patrick Dietemann (), Ilaria Bonaduce () and Norbert Willenbacher ()
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Ophélie Ranquet: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
Celia Duce: University of Pisa
Emilia Bramanti: Institute of Chemistry of Organo Metallic Compounds
Patrick Dietemann: Doerner Institut, Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen
Ilaria Bonaduce: University of Pisa
Norbert Willenbacher: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Old Masters like Botticelli used paints containing mixtures of oils and proteins, but “how” and “why” this was done is still not understood. Here, egg yolk is used in combination with two pigments to evaluate how different repartition of proteinaceous binder can be used to control the flow behavior as well as drying kinetics and chemistry of oil paints. Stiff paints enabling pronounced impasto can be achieved, but paint stiffening due to undesired uptake of humidity from the environment can also be suppressed, depending on proteinaceous binder distribution and colloidal paint microstructure. Brushability at high pigment loading is improved via reduction of high shear viscosity and wrinkling can be suppressed adjusting a high yield stress. Egg acts as antioxidant, slowing down the onset of curing, and promoting the formation of cross-linked networks less prone to oxidative degradation compared to oil alone, which might improve the preservation of invaluable artworks.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36859-5

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