In the work to identify Vasa's colours, the first step is to find preserved fragments on the surface of the wood. It is important to systematically study the wood very closely. In some cases, painted surfaces are visible to the naked eye, but the examinations are also carried out using a microscope.
In order to be able to identify pigments, analysis of elements is required, which during the investigations of Vasa's colours was done through electron microscopy. Thus, close to 20 different pigments could be confirmed in Vasa's colour trace.
At the Vasa Museum we have two exhibitions showcasing the colours that Vasa was painted in.
- In the exhibition The Power and the Glory, we show which pigments were used in the painting of the sculptures.
- In the exhibition Vasa Up Close, we show painted copies of sculptures that were on Vasa.
