17127
Accession Number
25809
Editor
Mills, John S.; Smith, Perry
Title Of Article Chaper
Vincent van Gogh's triptych of trees in blossom, Arles (1888), part 2. On egg white varnishes
Title Of Journal Book
Cleaning, retouching and coatings: technology and practice for easel paintings and polychrome sculpture: preprints of the contributions to the Brussels Congress, 3-7 September 1990
Pages
131-133
Reference Bibliography
Includes 30 bibliog. refs.
Publisher
International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works
Publisher City
London
Language Of Text
English
Language Of Summary
English
Literature Type
Monograph : Proceedings
Literature Level
Analytic
Meeting
The International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works Brussels Congress
Meeting City
Brussels
Abstract
Many paintings by Vincent van Gogh show a clearly visible greyish layer which is quite distinct from surface grime or discolored varnish. In three paintings of spring trees in blossom (1888), this layer has been identified as an egg-white coating. Egg-white varnishes were recommended for a number of purposes in the painters' manuals which were available to Vincent, and the author suggests that the artist's intention may have been to protect his paintings in transit.
Keywords
van Gogh;triptych;egg white;varnish;painting;transit -- CAL
pub_id
17127
Meeting Date
19900903-19900907