Van Gogh's Sunflowers Illuminated: Art Meets Science

Description

Vincent van Gogh's Sunflowers are seen by many as icons of Western European art. Two of these masterpieces ― the first version painted in August 1888 (The National Gallery, London) and the painting made after it in January 1889 (Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam) ― have been the subject of a detailed comparison by an interdisciplinary team of experts. The pictures were examined in unprecedented depth using a broad array of techniques, including state-of-the-art, non-invasive imaging analytical methods, to look closely at and under the paint surface. Not only the making, but also the subsequent history of the works was reconstructed, including later campaigns of restoration. The study’s conclusions are set out in this book, along with the fascinating genesis of the paintings and the sunflower’s special significance to Van Gogh. More than 30 authors, all specialists in the field of conservation, conservation science and art history, have contributed to the research and publication presenting the outcomes of this unique project. Van Gogh’s Sunflowers Illuminated Art Meets Science Van Gogh’s Sunflowers Illuminated Art Meets Science Edited by Ella Hendriks and Marije Vellekoop Contents Foreword Van Gogh's Sunflowers: Research in Context Technical studies of the London and Amsterdam Sunflowers New developments: a combined non-invasive and invasive approach MOLAB Drawing up the balance: current knowledge of the Sunflower paintings The 2019 conservation treatment of the Amsterdam Sunflowers Epilogue Notes The Sunflowers in Perspective 1. Introduction 2. Flower still lifes 3. Painting sunflowers in Provence 4. Sunflowers for Gauguin 5. Gratitude and consolation 6. Coda Notes Methods, Materials and Condition of the London Sunflowers 1. Introduction 2. Materials and techniques 3. Condition and colour change 4. Conclusion Notes Methods and Materials of the Amsterdam Sunflowers 1. Introduction 2. Canvas 3. Extension 4. Design 5. Palette 6. Colour mixing and application 7. Sequence of painting 8. Paint handling 9. Conclusion Notes Chemical Alteration and Colour Changes in the Amsterdam Sunflowers A Focus on Geranium Lakes and Chrome Yellows 1. Introduction 2. The condition of geranium lake and chrome yellow colours used in the Amsterdam Sunflowers: a visual assessment 3. Geranium lake: a bright but fugitive colour 4. Chrome yellows: bright yellows that turn dark 5. Conclusions Notes Structure and Chemical Composition of the Surface Layers in the Amsterdam Sunflowers 1. Introduction 2. Results and discussion 3. Discussion and conclusions Notes Conservation of the Amsterdam Sunflowers: From Past to Future 1. Introduction 2. Jan Cornelis Traas (1898–1984) 3. The 1927 treatment by Traas 4. The 1961 treatment by Traas 5. The current status quo: choices for conservation Notes Methods and Techniques Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) Notes Research Methods and Technical Terms: An Overview Experimental Methods and Conditions Used for Investigating the Amsterdam Sunflowers and Mock-up Paints 1 The Amsterdam Sunflowers (chapters 4–6) 2 Artificially aged mock-up paints (chapter 5) Notes Bibliography Abstracts Index About the Authors Note to the Reader