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

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/401445558_The_acid_attack_1990_on_Rembrandt's_The_Night_Watch_1642_Reassessing_the_painting's_condition_through_a_multimodal_analytical_approach [accessed Mar 11 2026].