Long-term Colour Change Measurement: Some Results after Twenty Years

David Saunders, Helene Chahine and John Cupitt
Technical Bulletin Volume 17, 1996

Abstract

Colour measurements taken in the 1970s and 1980s with a Wright-Wassall spectrophotometer were compared with recent ones made with the VASARI image processing system; the means of comparison is discussed. Calculated changes are discussed for paintings by the Master of Liesborn, Corot, and Uccello.

Changes in red lake areas of the Master of Liesborn were mostly attributable to differences in the measuring systems, while fading of a yellow lake pigment was observed in the Corot. Reframing of the Uccello in recent decades had exposed an area of copper resinate to light, and it was found that it had shifted from green towards brown.

Keywords 

colourimetry, Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, Liesborn Master, paintings, Paolo di Dono Uccello, pigment

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To cite this article we suggest using

Saunders, D., Chahine, H., Cupitt, J. 'Long-term Colour Change Measurement: Some Results after Twenty Years'. National Gallery Technical Bulletin Vol 17, pp 81–90.
http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/technical-bulletin/saunders_chahine_cupitt1996

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