Metal soaps critical in speed of deterioration of oil paintings
(WorldNews Netherlands)

26 April 2017 When you stand in front of an oil painting in a museum, you may imagine that the work is a permanent, immutable object. However, nothing could be further from the truth: oil paintings are subject to slow changes affecting both their external appearance and internal structure. Joen Hermans has managed to recreate the molecular structure of old oil paints. He will obtain his doctorate at the University of Amsterdam on Tuesday 9 May. Paint can fade, varnish can discolour and paintings can collect dust and dirt. Joen Hermans has examined...