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Frank Ligterink is heritage scientist with an education in paper conservation, physics and teaching. He has worked at the laboratory of the Cultural Heritage Agency (RCE) of the Netherlands since 1996. In this presentation, he shares his belief that the success of open source software projects is partly based on tools and infrastructures that enable people to cooperate efficiently. However, equally important are carefully shaped rules of conduct such as open source software licenses.

In this study, Yoram Goedhart explored to what extent a modern forensic approach can contribute to the documentation, identification and analysis of highly fragmented and aged materials in a case of cultural heritage. To reach this goal, a forensic trace investigation was conducted on a pair of 18th century breeches, that have been retrieved from an anonymous grave on Spitsbergen.

The formation of crystalline metal soaps in paint materials is threatening a large percentage of historical oil paintings worldwide. Despite being linked to phenomena such as crack formation and paint delamination (loss of paint), very little research has been performed on the coupled chemo-mechanical behavior of historical oil paintings under the formation of crystalline metal soaps. In this work, a chemo-mechanical model has been developed that is capable of simulating the growth of metal soap crystals and the corresponding cracking generated in the paint layer. The model is capable of qualitatively predicting the formation of metal soaps and surface cracks as observed in historic oil paintings. To improve the quantitative predictions of the model, ongoing research focuses on the experimental calibration of the mechanical and diffusion-reaction properties of the constituents. The model may assist conservators in the determination of conservation strategies and decisions.

Many researchers have demonstrated that water/humidity exposure has the potential to greatly accelerate oil paint ageing. However, it remains difficult to estimate whether typical environmental conditions or cleaning methods have a significant impact on paintings. In this presentation, Joen Hermans presents some recent results on chemical reactivity and transport of water. These results are not just relevant to the role of water in paint ageing, but they also provide important insights on general characteristics of oil paint as a chemical system.

Francesca Gabrieli is a Post Doc at the Science department of the Rijksmuseum. In this presentation, she will show the use of Reflectance imaging spectroscopy, complementarily to MA-XRF, to investigate the painting technique of Peter De Hooch (b.1629 – d. after 1684) in order to understand how the artist created his iconic, intimate depictions of 17th century everyday life.

Tracy Liu recently completed a one-year internship in Paintings Conservation at the Rijksmuseum as part of her final year of master's study in Conservation at the Winterthur/University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation. In this presentation, she highlights key points from the art historical and technical investigation of Jan van Scorel’s Portrait of a Man from Haarlem, completed in preparation for treatment for the upcoming 'Forget Me Not' special exhibit. This presentation will conclude with a brief look at the current state of its treatment progress.