Chemists Investigate Lost Reds In Homer Painting
Monday, June 16, 2008 - 11:28
in Physics & Chemistry
Scientific evidence has shown that the sky in Winslow Homer's watercolor "For to be a Farmer's Boy" (1887) once glowed with color. A Northwestern University chemist and an Art Institute of Chicago conservation scientist are working to determine exactly what those colors were. They are using a powerful analytical technique called surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy, which requires much less material for samples.