Jennifer L. Mass

Jennifer L. Mass is the Andrew W. Mellon Professor of Cultural Heritage Science at Bard Graduate Center, an advanced graduate research institute in New York City dedicated to the cultural histories of the material world. She holds a PhD and MS in Inorganic Chemistry from Cornell University and a BA in Chemistry from Franklin and Marshall College.

• PhD Inorganic Chemistry, Cornell University
• MS Inorganic Chemistry, Cornell University
• BA Chemistry, Franklin and Marshall College

Professor Mass's research program centers on understanding the materials chemistry of cultural heritage and how this chemistry affects an object's visual and functional properties over time. Her work examines how surfaces of antiquities, works of decorative art, the built environment, and sacred objects evolve, sometimes enhancing desirability but often obscuring original functions. She investigates the historical context of acceptable patinas and interventions to better understand culturally significant objects. Her specific research areas include central European porcelain, vert antique furniture finishes, Pablo Picasso's canvas re-use in his Blue Period, and the patinas of copper alloys from antiquity to 19th century architectural ornament.

Analysis of Professor Mass's publications reveals a strong focus on pigment degradation mechanisms, particularly cadmium and arsenic-based pigments in modern paintings. Her work frequently examines Edvard Munch's The Scream and Henri Matisse's works, using advanced analytical techniques like reflectance imaging spectroscopy and synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence mapping. Her research bridges chemistry, art history, and conservation science to address critical questions about material stability and historical authenticity in cultural heritage objects.

Professor Mass has presented her research on topics such as "Nineteenth-Century Black Patinas on Ancient Bronzes," exploring the chemical innovations and Asian influences behind these patinas. Her work challenges assumptions about selenium-based patinas on ancient bronzes, questioning whether they represent fakes, 19th-century imitations of Japanese shakudō, or undocumented restoration techniques.

• Research on cadmium pigment degradation in Munch's The Scream
• Studies of pigment migration in historic paintings
• Investigation of black patinas on ancient bronzes
• Analysis of Picasso's painting techniques