New method to preserve da Vinci's old self portrait developed

Researchers have developed a new non-destructive method that could help preserve the Leonardo da Vinci's self portrait drawn in red chalk on paper during the early 1500s that has started diminishing.

A group of experts from Italy and Poland was tasked with determining whether the degradation process has now slowed with appropriate conservation conditions or is it still continuing at an unacceptable rate.

The team has created a non-destructive approach that involves using a reflectance spectroscopy setup to obtain optical reflectance spectra of paper samples in the near-infrared, visible and near-ultraviolet wavelength ranges and centers on identifying and quantifying the concentration of chromophores-the culprit causing the yellowing within paper.

Adriano Mosca Conte, a researcher at the University of Rome Tor Vergata said that using this approach they were able to evaluate the state of degradation of Leonardo da Vinci's self-portrait and other paper specimens from ancient books dating from the 15th century.

This approach can not only help preserve and save this invaluable work of art but others as well, he added.