Pintus V, Baragona AJ, Cappa F, Haiml C, Hierl C, Sterflinger K, Schreiner M. Multi-Analytical Investigations of Andy Warhol's "
Orange Car Crash": Polymeric Materials in Modern Paints.
Polymers (Basel) 2022;
14:polym14030633. [PMID:
35160622 PMCID:
PMC8838703 DOI:
10.3390/polym14030633]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
This work presents strategic multi-analytical investigations performed on “Orange Car Crash” by Andy Warhol in order to make a well-informed conservation decision. For determining the type of binding medium used in the artwork, Pyrolysis–Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (Py–GC/MS) and Thermally Assisted Hydrolysis and Methylation of GC/MS (THM–GC/MS) were employed. The presence of a coating was investigated by Py–GC/MS. Moreover, the comprehension and elucidation of the paint stratigraphy were studied by examining cross-sections of samples taken from both canvases with Optical Microscopy (OM) under reflected visible (Vis) and ultraviolet light (UV) and by Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM–EDX). The investigation of possible synthetic organic pigments (SOPs) and extenders was performed by µ-Raman spectroscopy, while micro-Attenuated Total Reflection of Fourier-Transform Attenuated Total Reflection (µ-ATR–FTIR) allowed us to assign each component detected by Py–GC/MS or THM–GC/MS to a specific layer. The data collected from “Orange Car Crash” show mostly the application of acrylic-based paint as well as alkyd with rosin acids-based ink, thus providing fundamental information about the paint stratigraphy and chemical composition of each layer. In addition to the goal of informing an appropriate conservation–restoration strategy, this work represents a rare scientific study of a work by Andy Warhol.
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