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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.

Francesca Di Cicco is a PhD candidate in the perception intelligence lab at TU Delft. She is part of the NICAS project “Recipes and Realities” where she works on the psychophysical understanding of visual material perception in 17th century paintings, by identifying and quantifying the image features exploited by Dutch Golden Age painters. In this presentation she talks about her research on the material signatures of fabrics depicted in 17th century paintings .

Esther van Duijn is painting’s conservator and researcher, who has specialized in the history of paintings conservation at the Rijksmuseum. She gives a presentation on the traditions and developments in the wax-resin lining method used in the Rijksmuseum.

In this presentation, Luc Megens presents his research Uranium glaze on Dutch Art Nouveau and Art Deco Pottery. This research has made it possible to understand the production and identify the composition of a universally collected Dutch ceramic product and improve the awareness of the measures that need to be taken by those working with such collections.

Fréderique Broers, a PhD student in the NICAS project “3D understanding of degradation products in paintings”, gives a presentation on New insights into the degradation of arsenic sulfide degradation using synchrotron X-ray spectroscopy.