In these years, a total study of the structure of paintings and fifty works from different periods of the artist (the earliest painting dates from 1839, the most recent - 1900 m, the year of his death).
From the selected microsamples paintings produced Microsections who suffered a complex physical and chemical research.
From the white pigments in the painting IKAyvazovsky is dominated white lead, are present in almost all the works of the artist. There were no single case of a copyright colorful layers of any other white.
In the group of blue pigment cobalt blue predominates, but around mid-1840 to mid 1850. there is also an intensive use of ultramarine.
Among the yellow paint in a quantitative sense prevail ocher and close to them brown earthen colors. However, their use in painting XIX. is more general than the individual features. Therefore, for the examination of problems of particular importance is the active application IKAyvazovsky yellow, cadmium (which, like cobalt blue, is found, since 1839, throughout the career of the artist). However, in the mentioned above period (mid 1840 - mid 1850's.) Yellow cadmium in some cases accompanied by the use of lead crown. This anomaly is the synchronous application of the two groups of colors suggests the presence in the work IKAyvazovsky of a relatively long "pilot" period.
List of green paint found in the film opens in 1839 the factory mixture is paint (a mixture of cobalt blue and Neapolitan yellow). Then, apparently, for 20 years IK Aivazovsky gets green shades predominantly by mixing blue and yellow colors. In 1858, simultaneously with the beginning of the industrial production of emerald green (hydrated chromium oxide), she always gets in the palette IKAyvazovsky.
In mid-1870. With a difference of one year, fixed the date of application IKAyvazovsky copper-arsenic green (or green Scheele shveynfurtskoy green) and green cobalt, the latter immediately becomes the favorite green paint IKAyvazovsky.
In the group of red pigments in all periods of creativity IKAyvazovsky prevails cinnabar (often mixed with cadmium yellow or whitewash). Less commonly used natural kraplak (light and dark), also mostly in the mixtures.
Purple pigments are purple cobalt, which appeared in the palette IKAyvazovsky in 1859 (ie, when the pigment became known).
In some scenes visually (by the presence of the typical "floating" craquelure) recorded use of asphalt, but, apparently, in most cases the skillful use of the paint could prevent its devastating effects.
The study of painting IKAyvazovsky identified paint, not previously known from literary sources (in particular, the fundamental book by NS Barsamova and AN Luzhetskyy): yellow euros, copper-arsenic green, cobalt green, cobalt violet . It also emerged that took a yellow cadmium in the artist's palette is much more important role than previously thought.
At the same time, some pigments, confidently attributed IKAyvazovsky, were not detected, and this - lead-zinc white, Naples yellow (as a separate paint), indigo and Prussian blue. Without denying the fundamental possibility of the presence of these dyes in the entire volume of the picturesque heritage of the artist, we nevertheless can claim that they are atypical for its creativity.
In conclusion, we note that IK Aivazovsky apparently exposed every newly emerging relatively short time, but extensive testing, and favorite colors always remained in his palette. Inherent to the artist to experiment in the field of painting technique was extremely rational, subordinates achieve maximum artistic effect and durability of painting.
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On the topic (in addition, it is interesting).
The composition of soil microsamples paintings by Aivazovsky.
http://www.hermitagemuseum.org/html_...1_15_0_14.html
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A lot of useful in the book: avt.Barsamov NS
IK Aivazovsky. On the skill of an artist /NS Barsamov. - M.: Art, 1967. - 111 pp.: Ill., Portr.