Digital BW, The Print

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Paul Roark"
<paul.roark@v...> wrote:

> 
> Do they know what the varnish is?
> 
Paul,

Sorry I do not have that information at this time. I'll try to see
what I can find out.

It seems that Da Vinci mixed his pigments with a highly volatile
binder which evaporated as soon as it dried. This is more visible in
the veil. The painting seem to have been painted on a wood panel,
whose fibers may be visible under close scrutiny. I wonder how lignin
 could have affected its longevity, if it did.

There is no visible brush strokes on the painting. Coud be that Da
Vinci spread the pigments with his fingers.

And, I made a typo, it should have read "La Joconde".

Cheers,
Andre Moreau