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. 2023 May 24;9(21):eade7686.
doi: 10.1126/sciadv.ade7686. Epub 2023 May 24.

Proteomic identification of beer brewing products in the ground layer of Danish Golden Age paintings

Fabiana Di Gianvincenzo  1   2 , Cecil Krarup Andersen  3 , Troels Filtenborg  4 , Meaghan Mackie  1   5 , Madeleine Ernst  6 , Jazmín Ramos Madrigal  1 , Jesper V Olsen  5 , Jørgen Wadum  7   8   9 , Enrico Cappellini  1
Affiliations

Proteomic identification of beer brewing products in the ground layer of Danish Golden Age paintings

Fabiana Di Gianvincenzo et al. Sci Adv. .

Abstract

The application of mass spectrometry-based proteomics to artworks provides accurate and detailed characterization of protein-based materials used in their production. This is highly valuable to plan conservation strategies and reconstruct the artwork's history. In this work, the proteomic analysis of canvas paintings from the Danish Golden Age led to the confident identification of cereal and yeast proteins in the ground layer. This proteomic profile points to a (by-)product of beer brewing, in agreement with local artists' manuals. The use of this unconventional binder can be connected to the workshops within the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. The mass spectrometric dataset generated from proteomics was also processed with a metabolomics workflow. The spectral matches observed supported the proteomic conclusions, and, in at least one sample, suggested the use of drying oils. These results highlight the value of untargeted proteomics in heritage science, correlating unconventional artistic materials with local culture and practices.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.. Analyzed paintings.
The 10 artworks by C. W. Eckersberg and C. S. Købke analyzed in this study. The name and the collection number of each artwork (A to J) are reported in Table 1. For KS114 (J): Copyright Royal Danish Academy–Conservation, M. Scharff.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.. Deamidation level of cereal and yeast proteins.
(A to G) Percentage of deamidation of asparagine and glutamine residues for the species-specific cereal and yeast proteins identified in seven of the 10 analyzed samples. Error bars indicate SD around 1000 bootstrap replicates. Sample identifiers are shown at the very top, while the number of peptides used for the calculation is indicated for each bar.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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