An investigation into the synthesis of cadmium sulfide pigments for a better understanding of their reactivity in artworks

Cadmium yellows are a class of inorganic pigments introduced during the middle of the 19th c. and widely employed by modern painters. Recent research has reported the degradation of cadmium yellow paints in important artworks such as The Scream by Edward Munch, raising questions about its triggering factors. To address this issue, we investigated, for the first time, the historical production methods of Winsor & Newton, one of the leading suppliers of artists' materials. Starting from in-depth documentary research of the Winsor & Newton 19th c. archive database, the foundation for an informed selection of historical preparation methods of these yellow pigments was provided. This allowed us to replicate 19th c. recipes, enabling us to understand better historical synthesis processes and their impact on the properties of cadmium yellow pigments. The pigments prepared, as well as reference pigments, were characterized through surface-sensitive methods in a multifaceted analytical approach. The results show that pigments synthesized following historical indications present polytype crystal structure and crystal grains and aggregates much smaller than reference pigments. More interestingly, the detection of chlorine ions on particles surface (in the form of Cl bonded to a metal) was possible by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy analysis, allowing its exclusion as an environmental contaminant. Finally, we have observed a strong sensitivity of the photoluminescence emission to pigment crystallite and grain size, an occurrence which may significantly impact on the photo-reactivity of the pigment in artworks.

Automated summary

Cadmium yellows, introduced in the mid-19th century, have exhibited degradation in important artworks in recent years, prompting researchers to investigate historical production methods of leading suppliers such as Winsor & Newton. Analyses showed that cadmium yellow pigments synthesized following historical indications have distinct properties, including polytype crystal structure, smaller crystal grains, and the presence of chlorine ions, ruling out environmental contaminants as a triggering factor for degradation in artworks. Furthermore, the sensitivity of photoluminescence emission to pigment crystallite and grain size was observed, indicating a potential impact on the photo-reactivity of the pigment in artworks.