Imagine how much we would know if every museum had a scientific research program like that of the Art Institute of Chicago

On April 22, 2014, The New York Times published in its Science Section an article by Kenneth Chang titled “How This Renoir Used to Look”. The article discussed the changes in color of the background of the Art Institute of Chicago’s 1883 Renoir painting, “Madame Leon Clapisson” since it was completed, explaining that the cochineal which gave the background a scarlet-purple color had faded. This study is just one of many undertaken by the Art Institute of Chicago’s conservators and scientists during the past few years. Imagine how much greater an understanding of artists’ materials and intentions we would have if every museum had a scientific research program like that of the Art Institute.