Chemistry of Art

Chemistry of Art introduces the chemistry of art including the materials used to create, authenticate and restore works of art. The focus will be to understand the chemistry of the materials used to create works of art (such as photography, metalwork, frescos, ceramics and paintings) including their composition and properties.  Students will also explore the effects of environmental pollution on the degradation of artifacts and the chemical processes used to preserve and restore pieces of art. Historical relevance will be woven into the course to explain how the chemistry of materials has changed throughout time. Students will learn about the analytical techniques and instrumentation including nondestructive testing used to identify forgeries and authenticate art.  This hands-on course will incorporate labs to apply the chemistry of art to authentic applications.   

By the end of the course, students should be able to:

• Understand the micro and macroscopic properties of the materials used to create art. 

• Relate how the environment, prior restoration and light affect the preservation of artwork.  

• Explain how art is authenticated, restored or conserved using chemical and analytical techniques. 

Chemistry of Art Unit Outline

• Photographic Chemistry 

• Color in Art 

• Inks and Binders

• Metallic Chemistry 

• Textiles and Dyes 

• Ceramics and Frescos 

• Scientific Analysis of Forgeries and Restorations