FIRING laser beams at priceless paintings might seem the height of folly, putting the painting’s delicate pigments at risk. So while conservators have for decades used ultraviolet lasers to clean up grubby sculptures, they have always fought shy of using them on soiled paintings.
But now a study has shown you can fire away with impunity. Lasers are not only safe, but also more effective than conventional chemical techniques, says Marta Castillejo, a researcher with the Spanish Council for Scientific Research in Madrid.
Oil paintings are protected by a thin layer of varnish. But over time, this becomes oxidised and…
