A study published in the scientific journal Nature Communications revealed that Renaissance painters such as Leonardo da Vinci and Botticelli may have added egg yolk to the paints used in their works.
The addition of this ingredient secret would aim to guarantee the durability and preservation of the paintings, according to the specialists responsible for the research.
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This mixture of eggs and oil paint acted as an antioxidant, preventing the degradation of the paint, the penetration of moisture into the painted fabric and its yellowing.
Although traces of protein had been identified in some paintings before, the study confirmed that the inclusion of eggs in the mixture was intentional.
Thanks to this technique, Renaissance paintings have been preserved to this day. The discovery reveals the ability of these artists to find creative and effective solutions to preserve his works of art, highlighting the importance of science and chemistry in the conservation of cultural heritage.
The Preservation “Powers” of Egg Yolks
According to the experts who carried out the study, the preservation of Renaissance paintings is demonstrated by the capacity of the proteins present in the egg yolk to inhibit the absorption of water by the paint in places with high moisture.
Furthermore, during the ink drying process, the ingredient was effective in preventing wrinkling of the surface of the artwork, keeping it flat.
“The results show that, even with a very small amount of egg yolk, it is possible to obtain a remarkable change of properties in oil paint, indicating how this may have been beneficial to artists,” says an excerpt from the study.
Graduated in History and Human Resources Technology. Passionate about writing, today he lives the dream of acting professionally as a Content Writer for the Web, writing articles in different niches and different formats.
