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Updated: Feb 18, 2026

X-ray Powder Diffraction in Conservation Science: Towards Routine Crystal Structure Determination of Corrosion Products on Heritage Art Objects
Published on: June 8, 2016
Synchrotron-Based High Angle Resolution and High Lateral Resolution X-ray Diffraction: Revealing Lead White Pigment
V Gonzalez1,2,3, G Wallez1,2,3, T Calligaro1,2
1Centre de Recherche et de Restauration des Musées de France, C2RMF , Palais du Louvre, 75001 Paris, France.
Abstract:
Microsamples collected on 27 major paintings by Old European Masters dating from the 14th to the late 19th centuries were analyzed using synchrotron-based X-ray diffraction. Two complementary analytical configurations were used at beamlines ID22 (high angle resolution) and ID21 (high lateral resolution), in order to highlight markers of the different grades of the lead white pigments (mixture of cerussite PbCO3 and hydrocerussite Pb3(CO3)2(OH)2). Rietveld analysis and crystalline phases mapping at the microscale revealed the composition and microstructure of the pigments, shedding light on the preparation recipes and pigment choices of the artists through History.
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