This week on Chemistry World
Posted by Chemistry World on Tue 24 Apr 2012Categories: News , This week's stories | [3] Comments
22 April 2012: Have something to say about an article you’ve read on Chemistry World this week? Leave your comments below…
EPA names new science adviser
Glenn Paulson will take over from ‘father of green chemistry’ Paul Anastas at agency
Science’s role in a sustainable economy
There are no sustainability ‘silver bullets’ and science will have to work within social and economic frameworks to change the world, a new report claims
AstraZeneca seeks to refill dry pipeline with gout drug
UK pharma giant splashes out $1.26 billion on US gout specialist Ardea Biosciences
Near-infrared spectroscopy illuminates medieval art
Non-invasive technique sheds light on the materials used across the entirety of a 15th century manuscript
Two in one technique for biological imaging
Combining scanning ion microscopy and fluorescence microscopy can give chemical and topological information about the same sample
Russia mulls plan for overseas study scheme
Students that receive funding to study abroad will have to return and work in Russia
Wed 25 Apr 2012 at 11:07 pm
Re Near-infrared spectroscopy illuminates medieval art
These results should not come as a surprise nor would I call the binder use idiosyncratic. As someone who uses medieval techniques, I know that different pigments work best with different types and ratios of binder, and that it is common to add a little egg yolk to red pigments to improve their handling qualities and gloss.
Thu 26 Apr 2012 at 1:21 pm
Thanks for the interesting comment Rachel. Great to hear from someone who actually still works with similar materials to those used by medieval illuminators.
Wed 15 Aug 2012 at 4:21 pm
Interesting point, Rachel – the use of egg yolk with red pigments specifically is noted in historic treatises as well. What is interesting about the ‘Praying Prophet’ and the other illuminations in its parent volume is that the yolk is not used in combination with any specific pigment, but rather with all pigments when used to decorate specific parts of the page, i.e. the scenes within the initials. The very same pigments, when used in the decorative borders, do not show the presence of absorption bands characteristic of egg yolk.