Researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany found that Leonardo da Vinci and other famous Renaissance artists experimented with adding egg yolk to oil paint to increase the moisture resistance of paintings and prevent wrinkling and yellowing. The results of the work of scientists have been published. magazine Nature Communication.
During the analysis of the paintings, the experts found that adding egg white and yolk to oil paints acts as an antioxidant, slowing the separation of the paint into oil and pigment. According to experts, this is an important discovery, because such studies of the painting habits of great artists will improve understanding of how best to preserve priceless works of art.
“Our results show that even with a very small amount of egg yolk a surprising change in the properties of oil paint can be achieved. When the paintings dried, they did not crack or turn yellow as much as they could. So the world can still admire the masterpieces of Leonardo da Vinci and other masters.”