Oil painting 'originated in East

Synchrotron light unveils oil in ancient Buddhist paintings from Bamiyan
(Eurekalert 22-Apr-2008)

The world was in shock when in 2001 the Talibans destroyed two ancient
colossal Buddha statues in the Afghan region of Bamiyan. Behind those
statues, there are caves decorated with precious paintings from 5th to
9th century A.D. The caves also suffered from Taliban destruction, as
well as from a severe natural environment, but today they have become
the source of a major discovery. Scientists have proved, thanks to
experiments performed at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility
(ESRF), that the paintings were made of oil, hundreds of years before
the technique was "invented" in Europe. Results are published today in
the peer-reviewed Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry.

In many European history and art books, oil painting is said to have
started in the 15th century in Europe. But scientists from the
National Research Institute for Cultural Properties in Tokyo (Japan),
the Centre of Research and Restoration of the French Museums-CNRS
(France), the Getty Conservation Institute (United States) and the
ESRF have recently identified drying oils in some of the samples they
studied from the Bamiyan caves. Painted in the mid-7th century A.D.,
the murals show scenes with Buddhas in vermilion robes sitting
cross-legged amid palm leaves and mythical creatures. The scientists
discovered that 12 out of the 50 caves were painted with oil painting
technique, using perhaps walnut and poppy seed drying oils.
Researchers take samples from the caves at Bamiyan, in Afghanistan.
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A combination of synchrotron techniques such as infrared
micro-spectroscopy, micro X-ray fluorescence, micro X-ray absorption
spectroscopy or micro X-ray diffraction was crucial for the outcome of
the work. "On one hand, the paintings are arranged as superposition of
multiple layers, which can be very thin. The micrometric beam provided
by synchrotron sources was hence essential to analyze separately each
of these layers. On the other hand, these paintings are made with
inorganic pigments mixed in organic binders, so we needed different
techniques to get the full picture" Marine Cotte, a research scientist
at CNRS and an ESRF scientific collaborator explains.

The results showed a high diversity of pigments as well as binders and
the scientists identified original ingredients and alteration
compounds. Apart from oil-based paint layers, some of the layers were
made of natural resins, proteins, gums, and, in some cases, a
resinous, varnish-like layer. Protein-based material can indicate the
use of hide glue or egg. Within the various pigments, the scientists
found a high use of lead whites. These lead carbonates were often
used, since Antiquity up to modern times, not only in paintings but
also in cosmetics as face whiteners.
A detail of a painting in the cave.
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"This is the earliest clear example of oil paintings in the world,
although drying oils were already used by ancient Romans and
Egyptians, but only as medicines and cosmetics", explains Yoko
Taniguchi, leader of the team.

The paintings are probably the work of artists who traveled on the
Silk Road, the ancient trade route between China, across Central
Asia's desert to the West. However, there are very few studies about
this region. "Due to political reasons research on paintings in
Central Asia is scarce. We were fortunate to get the opportunity from
UNESCO, as a part of conservation project for the World Heritage site
Bamiyan, to study these samples and we hope that future research may
provide deeper understanding of the painting techniques along the Silk
Road and the Eurasian area", says Taniguchi.

The results were presented in a scientific conference in Japan last
January, but are only published today in a peer-reviewed journal.