Chemistry of Art Terminology

Flashcards covering essential vocabulary and concepts related to the chemistry of art.

Wood

A complex material based on cellulose, hemicelluloses, pectins, lignins, and extractives, known for its structural stability.

Xylem

Vascular tissue that carries water upward from the roots to every part of a plant, consisting of heartwood and sapwood.

Heartwood

The inner, older portion of woody tissue that is dark in color and contains dead cells.

Sapwood

The outer, younger portion of woody tissue that contains living cells and conducts water from roots to leaves.

Phloem

Tissue in the inner bark responsible for transporting sugars produced by photosynthesis from leaves to roots.

Cambium

A thin layer of growing tissue that produces bark and phloem tissues, enabling inward and outward growth.

Earlywood

Light-colored growth in trees at the beginning of the growth season, typically during warm weather.

Latewood

Darker and denser growth at the end of the season, producing distinct growth rings.

Hardwood

Wood from deciduous trees that is denser, slower growing, and more expensive, often containing vessel elements.

Softwood

Wood from coniferous trees that is less dense, faster growing, and generally less expensive.

Photochemistry

The branch of chemistry concerned with the chemical effects of light, significant in photography.

Daguerreotype

An early photographic process that uses a silver-plated copper sheet to create direct positive images.

Toners

Substances added to photographic prints to alter the color by replacing silver or modifying its surface.

Photographic Paper

Paper coated with light-sensitive chemicals used to develop images from photographic negatives.

Sizing

The process of filling the pores on paper's surface with a substance to prevent water absorption.

Acid-free Paper

Paper with a pH greater than 6.5, designed to maintain its properties over time without degradation.

Vinland Map

A controversial historical map purportedly created by Vikings, subject to scientific debate regarding its authenticity.

Getty Kouros

An alleged ancient Greek sculpture, its authenticity disputed through scientific analysis of its material and construction.

La Bella Principessa

A portrait attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, under scrutiny for its stylistic features and historical context.