A study of cadmium yellow paints from Joan Miró’s paintings and studio materials preserved at the Fundació Miró Mallorca

Abstract The deterioration of cadmium yellow paints in artworks by Joan Miró (1893–1983) and painting materials from his studios Mallorca (Spain) was investigated. Analysis samples Miró’s paintings paint tubes palettes showed that degraded are composed poorly crystalline sulfide/zinc sulfide (CdS/Cd 1−x Zn x S) with a low percentage zinc, an oil binding medium. Cadmium sulfates were identified as the main products, forming superficial white crusts detected using SR µXANES µXRD techniques. Time-resolved photoluminescence measurements demonstrated highly display pink/orange emission surface microsecond lifetime, phenomenon observed other paints. In agreement recent studies on altered paints, these results suggest stability is related to its manufacturing method, which affects degree crystallinity resulting pigment. This, together environmental conditions have been exposed, induced degradation artworks. It finally noted exhibiting alteration analysed chemical composition very similar tube ‘Cadmium Yellow Lemon No. 1’ produced Lucien Lefebvre-Foinet . Indeed, this brand found studio, linking use product Miro’s