In the Focus issue of Nature Materials, February 2018 , researchers from Sorbonne Université in Paris and the British Museum in London discuss the contribution of material scientists in understanding the techniques and materials used by painters, sculptors and other artists, and in developing effective strategies to preserve our heritage.
Editorial : Behind the art
Art historians have joined forces with material scientists in order to better understand the objects of interest but also develop better conservation treatments and preservation approaches https://www.nature.com/articles/nmat5074
Philippe Walter and Laurence de Viguerie : Materials science challenges in paintings
Commentary in Nature Materials : Through the paintings of the old masters, we showcase how materials science today provides us with a vision of the processes involved in the creation of a work of art: the choice of materials, the painter’s skill in handling these materials, and the perception of the finished work. https://www.nature.com/articles/nmat5070