Table 1 Layer structure and composition of The Descent of the Cattle paint cross-section
Layer | Color appearance | Thickness (microns) | Identified components |
|---|---|---|---|
16 | Yellowish brown | 10–50 | Varnish constituents |
15 | Yellowish brown | 20 | Varnish constituents |
14 | Orangish | 20–30 | Vermilion, red lake (Al), silicates, gypsum, starch, iron oxide |
13 | Greenish | 10–20 | Prussian blue, bone black, lake |
12 | 10–15 | Vermilion | |
11 | Blue–black | 10–20 | Carbon particles, Prussian blue, silicate particles, chrome yellow, Kassel earth, barium sulfate |
10 | Greenish | 20–30 | Copper carboxylates |
9 | Greenish | 10–30 | Copper carboxylates |
8 | Green | 10 | Yellow ochre, Prussian blue, emerald green |
7 | Yellow | 10 | Yellow ochre, vermilion, carbon brown |
6 | Translucent green brown | 30–40 | Emerald green, yellow lake (Al), chrome yellow, barium sulfate and lead white |
5 | Dark brown | 20–50 | Unknown |
4 | Dark brown | 10–40 | Organic rich, lead drier |
3 | Reddish brown | >80 | Vermilion, ochre, lead white, (black or brown) carbon, lake (Al), green earth |
2 | Dark brown | 20–25 | Ochre, bone black, lead white |
1 | White | >25 | Lead white |