What question did this study set out to answer?

The research aims to reassess the condition of Rembrandt's The Night Watch after a 1990 acid attack and identify degradation products.

March 25, 2026Open Access

The acid attack (1990) on Rembrandt’s The Night Watch (1642). Reassessing the painting’s condition through a multimodal analytical approach

Key Points

The research aims to reassess the condition of Rembrandt's The Night Watch after a 1990 acid attack and identify degradation products.
Conducted a multimodal analytical approach using various techniques including MA-XRF, MA-XRPD, and OCT.
Utilized SEM-EDX analysis and μ-ATR-FTIR spectroscopy for characterizing paint cross-sections.
Prepared mock-ups to reconstruct the sequence of events during the acid attack.
Confirmed the presence of anglesite (PbSO4) and extensive lead soap formation in the affected areas.
Identified that damage to paint layers may be more visible after varnish removal, necessitating local consolidation.

Abstract

In 1990, Rembrandt’s The Night Watch was attacked with concentrated sulphuric acid. This studyreassesses the affected area and aims to identify and characterise any secondary degradationproducts, as well as any challenges for the conservation treatment. A comprehensive analyticalapproach, using macroscopic X-ray fluorescence (MA-XRF), macroscopic X-ray powder diffraction (MA-XRPD), optical coherence tomography (OCT), and light microscopy, scanning electronmicroscopy combined with energy-dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) analysis, micro attenuated totalreflectance Fourier transform infrared (μ-ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy and synchrotron radiation microX-ray powder diffraction (SR-μ-XRPD) of three paint cross-sections, permitted the confirmation ofanglesite (PbSO4) and extensive lead soap formation in the affected areas. Additionally, mock-upswere prepared and analysed to reconstruct the entire sequence of events of the acid attack. Currentestimations predict that some of the damage to the paint layers will become discernible after varnishremoval and that local consolidation of the fragile surface might be required (PDF) The acid attack (1990) on Rembrandt’s The Night Watch (1642). Reassessing the painting’s condition through a multimodal analytical approach. Available from: https: //www. researchgate. net/publication/401445558Theₐcidₐttack₁990ₒnRembrandt'sTheNightWatch₁642Reassessingₜheₚainting'sconditionₜhroughₐₘultimodalₐnalyticalₐpproach accessed Mar 11 2026.

The acid attack (1990) on Rembrandt’s The Night Watch (1642). Reassessing the painting’s condition through a multimodal analytical approach

Key Points

Abstract

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