The art of collaboration
See how our scientists are applying advanced analysis techniques to oil paintings, helping preserve great works of art for future generations.
Many oil-based paints used by history’s finest artists have aged badly over the years – cracking and even peeling off their canvases – and once vibrant colours have dulled.
To help preserve these works of art, Shell has been involved since the 1990s in scientific research on more than 160 paintings by artists including Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Pellegrini, and Jan Steen.
In a series of unusual collaborations, our scientists and leading art galleries are pioneering high-tech tools and techniques from the energy industry to create a better understanding of how paints age and how best to conserve them.
Restoring the Golden Room
Scientists at Shell Technology Centre Amsterdam, for example, partnered with The Hague’s Mauritshuis museum – home to Johannes Vermeer’s “Girl with a Pearl Earring” – to restore 18thcentury wall and ceiling paintings in the Golden Room by Italian artist Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini.
A thin, grey layer had accumulated on the paintings over many years. When the scientists confirmed its chemical composition, museum conservationists realised they would have to use a water-based gel to remove it. Because water can damage oil paint, the restorers worked closely with Shell’s analytical team to prevent any harm.
"We were deeply involved in testing to confirm that the gel was only removing the grey layer and not any of the underlying paints"
Ralph Haswell, principal Shell scientist.
In a long-term collaboration with the museum to improve art preservation methods, Shell helped fund a two-year restoration and expansion project on the building. It reopened to visitors in mid-2014.
Stopping the fade
Our scientists also joined forces with London’s National Gallery in 2014 to study why a paint pigment favoured by Rembrandt van Rijn and other 17th century artists is especially prone to fading.
The research included analysing the molecular structure of tiny paint samples to understand how the colours could best be preserved.
Paint can age so fast that the impressionist Vincent van Gogh watched the colours in his works fade even during his brief lifetime.
"All the colours that Impressionism has made fashionable are unstable, all the more reason to boldly use them too raw, time will only soften them too much"
Vincent Van Gogh, April 1888.
The fading continues to this day. But Shell is working with the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam and the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands to try to stop it.
Shell Rembrandt Sponsorship – An Unexpected Collaboration
Title: An Unexpected Collaboration
Duration: 3:40 minutes
Description:
Shell and the National Gallery
The Scientific department at the National Gallery and Shell scientists from the Shell Technology Centre Amsterdam have been researching a red pigment called Brazilwood lake that was used by Dutch 17th century artists, including Rembrandt. This pigment is prone to fading, which can gradually change the ‘look’ of paintings. Due to the complexity of the research we have employed scientific tools and techniques more typically used to analyse the molecules in fuel to identify the molecular structure of this component. We hope to find out more about how it degrades and improve the ability to identify it.
An Unexpected Collaboration Film Transcript
[Background music plays]
Calm, soothing piano music
[Visuals]
Guests looking at paintings throughout the National Gallery in London. Close ups on specific artworks.
[Voice Over Audio]
It is one of life’s great pleasures to visit an art gallery, to contemplate and admire masterpieces painted over many centuries.
[Visuals]
Exterior shot of the National Gallery. Interior footage of the gallery space and specific artwork including Van Gogh’s, Sunflowers
[Voice Over Audio]
Wandering through The National Gallery in London, visitors can marvel at the incredible creativity and skill of some of history’s finest artists.
[Visuals]
Close ups of historical paint recipes; panning shot of colour pigments in vials
[Voice Over Audio]
Yet to maintain these great works, gallery experts must first understand the materials used to create them.
Interview with Betsy Wieseman
[Title]
Curator of Dutch and Flemish Paintings The National Gallery
[Betsy]
‘Knowing how a painting was created helps us to choose the right ways to preserve and display it.
Some pigments are vulnerable to changes through light or chemical reaction. For example, in this painting by Rembrandt, the rider’s coat is still a vibrant yellow, but other areas of the painting have become darkened over time.’
[Visuals]
Betsy speaking in front of Rembrandt’s Portrait of Frederick Rihel on Horseback; Scientists pouring pigment into dish and examining with microscope; Betsy contemplating Rembrandt works hanging in the National Gallery; Panning close ups of Rembrandt’s Portrait of Frederick Rihel on Horseback
[Voice Over Audio]
Now, an innovative scientific collaboration between The National Gallery and Shell is helping to shed some light on the complex reasons behind these changes.
[Visuals]
Dr. David Peggie of the National Gallery examining a pigment through a microscope and charting info and graphs on a computer screen
Interview with Dr David Peggie
[Title]
Scientific Officer – Organic Analyst
The National Gallery
[David Peggie]
‘We're investigating a red lake pigment, specifically Brazilwood lake, used by Rembrandt and other Dutch 17th century artists. Brazilwood lake is extremely sensitive and very difficult to detect.
It is very light-sensitive, making the work that we're doing a considerable scientific challenge.’
[Visuals]
David Peggie examining pigment through a microscope; speaking in an office; separating pigment in a laboratory
[Voice Over]
Understanding the Brazilwood Lake’s scientific make-up will mean that it can be more easily identified.
This will allow the team to not only know when a painter has used the pigment, but also to understand how the colours we see today may have changed over time.
[Visuals]
Close up of microscope; close up of pigment; David Peggie and Betsy Wieseman examining Rembrandt’s Portrait of Frederick Rihel on Horseback
[Voice Over]
Doing so requires the type of high-tech equipment found at the laboratories of the Shell Technology Centre in Amsterdam.
[Visuals]
Female scientist working in laboratory; exterior shot of the Shell Technology Centre Amsterdam
[Background music changes]
Faster paced, exciting and somewhat futuristic sounding music
[Voice Over]
Here, Shell scientists are employing cutting-edge equipment normally used in the analysis of fuel molecules to unlock the red pigment’s hidden secrets.
[Visuals]
Scientists working laboratory; close ups of equipment
[Voice Over]
By recreating the pigment using historical recipes, the team has been able to study it at a molecular level.
[Visuals]
Close ups of pigments in vials, close up of scientific equipment; close up of computer with molecular compound on screen; three scientists conferring in laboratory
Interview with Dr David Peggie
[David Peggie]
‘This whole project has been a voyage of discovery. Combining Shell's technical expertise with the National Gallery's knowledge of materials, we can start to explore how the colour in Rembrandt's work may differ from what we see now, compared to all those years ago.’
[Visuals]
David Peggie speaking in office setting; David Peggie and scientist conferring in laboratory; close up of Rembrandt’s Portrait of Frederick Rihel on Horseback
[Voice Over]
Shell and the National Gallery. Science and art. It may seem like an unexpected collaboration, but it is the type of innovative partnership in which Shell has a long heritage.
[Visuals]
Close up of Rembrandt’s Portrait of Frederick Rihel on Horseback; David Peggie and scientist conferring; panning close up of pigments in vials;
[Voice Over]
Together the work on this collaboration is helping to enhance people’s understanding of timeless masterpieces. For the teams involved in London and Amsterdam, it is a chance to work on a project that has the potential to make an impact on the future preservation of art.
[Visuals]
David Peggie and scientist conferring; Betsy Wieseman looking at Rembrandt works hanging in gallery; three scientists reviewing computer screen
Interview with Dr Wim Genuit
[Title]
Shell Scientist
[Wim]
‘The nice thing about a career in science is that you never know where you will end up.
I've never expected to be involved in a project like this. For me personally, it's very nice to be involved in this investigation of pigments which have been used by Rembrandt.’
[Visuals]
Three scientists conferring around a computer screen; David Peggie and Wim Genuit reviewing a computer screen; Wim Genuit interviewed in hallway of Shell Technology Centre Amsterdam
Interview with Betsy Wieseman
[Betsy]
There's so much we can never know about art that was created hundreds of years ago, but this new collaboration between the National Gallery and Shell has given us fresh new insight into the workings of Rembrandt's studio. But perhaps most importantly, it's shown us what's possible when the worlds of art and science come together.
[Visuals]
Betsy speaking in front of a Rembrandt painting; guests moving through the gallery; close up of Portrait of Frederick Rihel on Horseback; shot of laboratory and computer screen
[Closing Visual]
Shell Pecten on white background
[Copy]
© Shell International Limited 2014
More in Inside Energy
A bionic inspector rolls in
Sensabot is a robot that can help maintain oil and gas field equipment in hostile environments.
Bubble surfing brings savings
Similar techniques to those used by penguins to swim quickly and easily are now being used to cut fuel use and pollution by ships.
Building energy projects like clockwork
See how we’re using a multi-dimensional approach to help designers, engineers and suppliers deliver big energy projects safer and sooner.
You may also be interested in
Innovative collaborations
Read about some of the innovative technologies and solutions we develop with others inside and outside the energy sector.
Innovating together
Do you have a great idea or innovative technology? We look for creative people, companies and organisations to partner with.
Chief Technology Officer and Chief Scientists
Working with our Chief Technology Officer, Shell’s Chief Scientists contribute to recognised scientific expertise and help to deliver innovative technology.