Non-destructive pigment analysis of mural paintings from the Song and Jin Dynasties in Baode County

Abstract

The tomb mural paintings discovered in Baode County, China from the Song and Jin Dynasties provide invaluable insights into the funeral culture and daily customs at that time, making them of significant research value. In this work, a non-destructive survey of the mural paintings was conducted using multiple modern techniques. The visual inspection of the mural paintings was performed with a mobile microscope and colorimeter. The composition identification of the pigments was employed using portable X-Ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF) and Raman spectrometer. It was revealed that the orange and black pigments were composed of minium and carbon black, respectively. Notably, the yellow pigment was found to be made of goethite, which was rarely reported in mural paintings from Shanxi Province, China. Additionally, the white pigments employed in the three mural paintings were identified as calcite and gypsum. A comprehensive evaluation on pigments was conducted, which is expected to provide a practical scientific foundation for the protection and restoration of the tomb mural paintings in Baode County, as well as necessary reference and support for the analysis of pigment components in cultural heritage.