Konstantas Art Sciences

Alexander Konstantas is a conservation scientist and art conservator. Due to his continual involvement in physicochemical research and the study of colors in cultural heritage paintings, he has studied modern pigment sources and has collected the highest quality pigments and minerals from around the world. With these he has created his own palette of high-quality, handmade pigments, with an aim to bring back natural pigments to art by honoring tradition.

[konstantas]

St. Nikitas the New Martyr of Nisyros. Beautiful work from Thanasis Kalafatis with our pigments. Photo by @karakatsanisdimitris #art #icon #iconpainting #konstantas #konstantasartsciences #pigments #naturalpigments #handmadepigments #premiumquality #mineral #mineralpigments #artscience #artworks #iconpainter #vivianite #redochre #historicalpigments (at Konstantas) https://www.instagram.com/p/CLyrMtYJ8V-/?igshid=f9m36edcg54b

[konstantas]

Earth pigments selection 🔹️Premium quality 🔹️Eco friendly - Non toxic 🔹️Excellent lightfastness #konstantasartsciences #pigments #naturalpigments #earthpigments #konstantas #premiumquality #art #tempera #conservation #restoration #ecofriendly #pure #premiumquality #nontoxic #watercolour #oilcolors (at Konstantas) https://www.instagram.com/p/CLuu0tVpw4M/?igshid=1lodkrt3ax686

[konstantas]

The pigment of the Month: Dioptase The highest purity handmade Dioptase from Congo gives a unique brilliant turquoise hue. The specific pigment is known for its brightness in painting. It comes from rare emerald-green to bluish-green minerals. ---------------------------------- References: Nicholas Eastaugh, Valentine Walsh, Tracey Chaplin, Ruth Siddall, Pigment Compendium: A Dictionary of Historical Pigments, Elsevier publication, Oxford 2004, pp .129 #konstantas #konstantasartsciences #artsciences #handmadepigments #premiumqualitypigments #premiumquality #handmade #conservation #restoration #documentation #archiving #analysis #identification #science #authentication #artworkauthentication #research #art #dioptase #pigment #naturalpigment #mineralpigment #tempera #oilcolors #pigments #fresco #encaustic #painting (at Konstantas) https://www.instagram.com/p/CIQ4e5-JG0T/?igshid=1hw8enfh15zev

[konstantas]

Handmade grinding process of Cadmium Red to make pigment for paint #konstantas #konstantasartsciences #artsciences #handmadepigments #premiumqualitypigments #premiumquality #handmade #conservation #restoration #documentation #archiving #analysis #identification #science #authentication #artworkauthentication #research #art   #cadmiumred #pigment #artificialpigment #tempera #oilcolors #pigments #fresco #encaustic #painting (στην τοποθεσία Konstantas) https://www.instagram.com/p/CHSaSjXJFEU/?igshid=be5edhx1281w

[konstantas]

Pigment of the Month: Vivianite (blue ochre) The highest purity handmade Vivianite pigment, gives a unique deep blue hue. The pigment is prepared by careful selection, grinding, washing, and levigation in controlled environmental conditions by an innovative approach. ----------------------------------------------------- https://shop.konstantas.com/product/vivianite ----------------------------------------------------- #konstantas #konstantasartsciences #artsciences #handmadepigments #premiumqualitypigments #premiumquality #handmade #conservation #restoration #documentation #archiving #analysis #identification #science #authentication #artworkauthentication #research #art #vivianite #pigment #naturalpigment #mineralpigment #tempera #oilcolors #pigments #fresco #encaustic #painting References/Βιβλιογραφία: (1) Jonathan Janson, Essential Vermeer website: Rare or Unidentifiable Pigments: Schijtgeel & Vivianite. (2) Marika Spring, “Pigments and Colour Change in the Paintings of Aelbert Cuyp“, Aelbert Cuyp (exhibition catalog: Washington, National Gallery of Art 7.10.2001-13.1.2002). Ed. Arthur K. Wheelock Jr. Amsterdam, London 2001-2002. 65-73. (3) Mark Richter: Die Verwendung von Vivianit in der farbigen Fassung und Malerei des Barock und Rokoko. In: Michael Kühlenthal (Hrsg.): Historische Polychromie. Hirmer, München 2004. (4) Stege H., Tilenschi C. and Unger A. . Bekanntes und Unbekanntes – neue Untersuchungen zur Palette Vermeers auf dem Gemälde „Bei der Kupplerin“. In: Uta Neidhardt und Marlies Giebe (Ed.), Johannes Vermeer – Bei der Kupplerin, Ausstellungskatalog Dresden 2004, pp. 76-82. (στην τοποθεσία Konstantas) https://www.instagram.com/p/CHC1iUWJlXU/?igshid=1dpqx2ujx7cmg

[konstantas]

Color of the Month: Shungite The highest purity handmade Shungite pigment, gives a unique natural black hue. Shungite is natural carbon black pigment with 60 - 80% of carbon content in its composition. Suggested as a black color in hagiography and retouching. The pigment is prepared by careful selection, grinding, washing, and levigation in controlled environmental conditions by an innovative approach. https://shop.konstantas.com/product/shungite-premium ----------------------------------------------------- #konstantasartsciences #handmade #pigments #handmadepigments #premiumquality #shungite #shungitepigment #handmadepigments #art #conservation #naturalpigments #mineral #mineralpigments #artscience #artworks #restoration #icon #iconpainter References/Βιβλιογραφία: (1) Nicholas Eastaugh, Valentine Walsh, Tracey Chaplin, Ruth Siddall, Pigment Compendium: A Dictionary of Historical Pigments, Elsevier publication, Oxford 2004, pp .345 https://www.instagram.com/p/CF1BvM3JGU8/?igshid=17b16nflyiioy

[konstantas]

Color of the Month: Malachite Malachite is one of the oldest known green pigments, occurs in egyptian tomb paintings since the Fourth dynasty. In ancient Greece, it was very common in the field of tomb decoration. ----------------------------------------------------- https://shop.konstantas.com/product/malachite ----------------------------------------------------- #konstantasartsciences #handmade #pigments #handmadepigments #premiumquality #malachite #malachitepigment #handmadepigments #art #conservation #naturalpigments #mineral #mineralpigments #artscience #artworks #restoration #icon #iconpainter https://www.instagram.com/p/CEli_Z7JA-w/?igshid=1is1fkg4w1xnb

[konstantas]

Color of the Month: Yellow Ochre Yellow ochre is one of the oldest pigments. The presence of yellow ochre pigment has been identified in the caves of the Paleolithic period of Altamira and Lascaux in France (15,000 BC). Yellow ochre has been widely used in art as one of the main pigments in Byzantium, the Renaissance to these days. The most well-known red ocher are: • French Yellow Ochres • Burgundy Yellow Ochre • Italian Gold Ochre ttps://shop.konstantas.com/category/yellow-ochres #konstantas #konstantasartsciences #pigment #yellowpigment #yellow #handmade #yellowochre #burgundyyellow #hightquality #pure #eggtempera #art #artist #icon #iconpainter #oilcolors #fresco #naturalpigments #science #artscience #artworks #frenchochre https://www.instagram.com/p/CDXNJAwpQUF/?igshid=171k2efhd9g7k

[konstantas]

Identification of the red ocher in the icon of A. Ritzos from Benaki museum collection (Icon:22251, 2nd half of 15th c.) by micro-Raman spectroscopy. Cross-section (sample of orange light) in (a) reflected and (b) UV light are shown. (c) Raman spectra of Red Ochre (laser source at 785nm). The complete stratigraphy (a, b) is as follows: (1) gesso ground; (2) red ochre, lead white and grains of carbon black and yellow ochre (3) underlay: organic lake and grains of lead white; (4) light: cinnabar and grains of lead white and yellow ochre; (5) varnish. Full article: https://konstantas.com/?p=14 #konstantasartsciences #benakimuseum#Ritzos #science #cretanschool #pigmentsanalysis #crossection #physicochemicalanalysis #identification #pigments #research #art #conservation #naturalpigments #earthpigments #artscience #artworks #icon #iconpainter https://www.instagram.com/p/CCcyZeaJaWH/?igshid=kihxoh3pjyic

[konstantas]

Identification of the red ocher in the icon of A. Ritzos from Benaki museum collection (Icon:22251, 2nd half of 15th c.) by micro-Raman spectroscopy. Cross-section (sample of orange light) in (a) reflected and (b) UV light are shown. (c) Raman spectra of Red Ochre (laser source at 785nm). The complete stratigraphy (a, b) is as follows: (1) gesso ground; (2) red ochre, lead white and grains of carbon black and yellow ochre (3) underlay: organic lake and grains of lead white; (4) light: cinnabar and grains of lead white and yellow ochre; (5) varnish. Full article: https://konstantas.com/?p=14 #konstantasartsciences #benakimuseu #benaki #Ritzos #science #cretanschool #pigmentsanalysis #crossection #physicochemicalanalysis #identification #pigments #research #art #conservation #naturalpigments #earthpigments #artscience #artworks #icon #iconpainter https://www.instagram.com/p/CCcxjetJsSy/?igshid=95ljf3aols2y

[konstantas]

Color of the Month: Red Ochre Red ocher is one of the oldest pigments. The presence of red ochre pigment has been identified in the caves of the Paleolithic period of Altamira and Lascaux in France (15,000 BC). Red ocher has been widely used in art as one of the main pigments in Byzantium, the Renaissance to these days. The main component of natural ocher is hematite.The ratio of the concentration of hematite and the granulometry of the pigment determines the color tone and the ability to coat. The most well-known red ocher are: • Venetian Red • Red Pozzuoli • Red Ercolano • Indian Red • Burgundy Red ochre • Novgorod Red https://shop.konstantas.com/category/red-ochres References/Βιβλιογραφία: (1) A. Konstanta, G. Theofanidou, V. Tsinaridis, I. Karapanagiotis, “Characterization of Pigments in Wall Paintings of Macedonian Tombs Using Noninvasive and Nondestructive Techniques”, Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature 2018, M. Koui et al. (eds.), 10th International Symposium on the Conservation of Monuments in the Mediterranean Basin, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-78093-1_25, 2018. (2) Fuller Carl, Natural. Colored Iron Oxide Pigments, In: Pigment Handbook, 2nd Edition. Lewis, P. (ed.). New York: John Wiley & Sons,1988, pp. 281-286. (3) Helwig K., Iron Oxide Pigments, in Artists’ Pigments, Berrie, B.H., Ed., National Gallery of Art Washington, 2007, pp 38 – 109. (4) Hradila David, Grygara Tomáš, Hradilová Janka, Bezdička Petr., "Clay and iron oxide pigments in the history of painting", Applied Clay Science 22, 2003, p. 230 (5) I.Karapanagiotis, D.Lampakis, A.Konstanta, H.V.Farmakalidis, “Identification of colourants in icons of the Cretan School of iconography using Raman spectroscopy and liquid chromatography”, Journal of Archaeological Science, Volume 40, Issue 3, pp. 1471–1478, March 2013. (στην τοποθεσία Konstantas) https://www.instagram.com/p/CCFpjt9Jr5h/?igshid=1rpptwdgmmajz

[konstantas]

Icon of Saint Nikolaos by Aggelos Akotantos (15th century): conservation and technical analysis 

The conservation of the icon of Saint Nicholas took place in the Laboratories of Benaki Museum, as part of the exhibition titled Hand of Angelos: An icon-painter in Venetian Crete, organized by the Benaki Museum in 2010. The icon belongs to a private collection in Kerkyra and is composed of the main scene with saint Nicholas painted by Angelos, and eight scenes of his life, right and left, added later by Damaskinos.

The most important step in the process to restore the actual work of the two painters was the gradual removal of the oxidized varnishes, during which the initial varnish by Angelos was revealed. This important discovery led us to investigate further the materials used by the painters with the use of physicochemical techniques. 

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An excellent work of Stergios Stassinopoulos together with Sofia Sotiropoulou and Alexander Konstantas who focus on technical aspects of an icon of Saint Nicholas by Angelos.

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https://konstantas.com/?p=211

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[konstantas]

Beautiful work from Konstantinos Mantzaris with @konstantasartsciences pigments #art #icon #iconpainting #konstantas #konstantasartsciences #pigments #naturalpigments #handmadepigments #premiumquality #mineral #mineralpigments #artscience #artworks #iconpainter https://www.instagram.com/p/CBgEnIQpcn9/?igshid=165hioiszhwz3

[konstantas]

Making Azurite Pigment by @konstantasartsciences https://www.instagram.com/p/CBX6Pa_BTVg/?igshid=bpo9t8eralcn

[konstantas]

Macedonian tombs – characterization of pigments in wall paintings. The objective of this work is the characterization of materials, which are contained in wall paintings in three Macedonian tombs: the tomb I of Dion (Sotiriadis), the tomb IV of Dion (Karitsa), and the tomb A (Heuzey). Attention is focused on the identification of pigments which were used in the wall paintings of the three burial monuments. ----------------------------- https://konstantas.com/?p=41 ----------------------------- #konstantas #konstantasartsciences #art #macedoniantomb #investigation #research #pigmentanalysis #pigments #conservation #restoration #artworks https://www.instagram.com/p/CBNv7hUhIb6/?igshid=1nvr9yh8jq5wt

[konstantas]

Macedonian tombs – characterization of pigments in wall paintings. The objective of this work is the characterization of materials, which are contained in wall paintings in three Macedonian tombs: the tomb I of Dion (Sotiriadis), the tomb IV of Dion (Karitsa), and the tomb A (Heuzey). Attention is focused on the identification of pigments which were used in the wall paintings of the three burial monuments.

#konstantasartsciences #konstantas #analysis #investigation #tomb #macedoniantomb #artworks #painting #fineart #art #pigments #wallpainting #archaeology #conservation #art

[konstantas]

The highest purity handmade Azurite from Russia, gives a unique blue hue. ----------------------------------------------------- https://shop.konstantas.com/product/azurite ----------------------------------------------------- The pigment is prepared by careful selection, grinding, washing, and levigation in controlled environmental conditions by an innovative approach. Coarsely ground azurite gives a deep blue color while finely ground particles give a lighter more transparent tone. ----------------------------------------------------- Χειροποίητος Αζουρίτης υψηλής καθαρότητας από την Ρωσία, διακρίνεται για την εξαιρετική απόδοση φυσικής μπλε απόχρωσης. Η χρωστική υποβάλλεται σε χειροποίητη επεξεργασία και διαδικασία καθαρισμού, πλυσίματος και στεγνώματος σε ελεγχόμενες περιβαλλοντικές συνθήκες, με πρωτότυπη μέθοδο. Παρουσιάζει διάφορες κοκκομετρίες. Η χονδρόκκοκη χρωστική διακρίνεται για τη σκούρη απόδοση χρώματος, ενώ η λεπτή κοκκομετρία αποδίδει ανοιχτό - διαπερατό χρώμα. Η χρήση του αζουρίτη ξεκίνησε από την αρχαία Αίγυπτο. Παράγεται τεχνητά από τον 17ο αιώνα ενώ αντικαταστάθηκε από την χρωστική μπλε της Πρωσίας όταν αυτή ανακαλύφθηκε τον 18ο αιώνα. Ο Αζουρίτης ήταν η πιο σημαντική μπλε χρωστική ουσία στην ευρωπαϊκή ζωγραφική κατά το Μεσαίωνα και την Αναγέννηση. (1),(2). ----------------------------------------------------- #konstantasartsciences #handmade #pigments #handmadepigments #premiumquality #azurite #azuritepigment #handmadepigments #art #conservation #naturalpigments #mineral #mineralpigments #artscience #artworks #restoration #icon #iconpainter References/βιβλιογραφία: (1) Gettens R.J. and Fitzhugh E.W., Azurite and Blue Verditer, in Artists’ Pigments. A Handbook of Their History and Characteristics, Vol. 2: A. Roy (Ed.) Oxford University Press 1993, p. 23-35. (2) Kühn H., Die Pigmente in den Gemälden der Schack-Galerie, in: Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen (Ed.) Schack-Galerie (Gemäldekataloge Bd. II), München 1969. https://www.instagram.com/p/CBAXHjiBu0H/?igshid=qdk7tvjthyzw