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Comparative Study of Pigments Used in 16th–17th Century CE Tempera Mural Art from Malayadipatti and Adiyamankottai Temple, Tamil Nadu, India


Affiliations
1 Department of Conservation, National Museum Institute, Janpath, New Delhi 110 011, India
2 Department of Tourism Administration, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar 431 004, India
3 Conservation Research Laboratory, Ajanta Caves, Archaeological Survey of India, Padmapani Bhawan, Dr BAMU Campus, Aurangabad 431 004, India
4 Department of Advanced Instrumental Research Facility, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110 067, India
 

Eight micro-samples from mural paintings of Malayadipatti and Adiyamankottai temples in Tamil Nadu, India were studied using binocular microscopy, thin film crystal X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, micro-Raman spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy to understand the original constituent materials of the pigments, binders and the methods of painting. Red paint had a mixture of cinnabar and hematite. The yellow colour resulted from orpiment. Orange hues were produced a mixture of orpiment and hematite. Grey colour was produced by a mixture of calcium carbonate and manganese dioxide. Black tones were prepared primarily using lamp black. The minerals used in both the temples were nearly identical. The appearance of proteinaceous materials/oils as a binding medium in all samples indicated the use of a tempera wall painting technique. These findings help improve our understanding of the methods and materials used in mural arts and serve as a guide for their future restoration.

Keywords

Art Restoration, Binders, Mural Paintings, Pigments.
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  • Comparative Study of Pigments Used in 16th–17th Century CE Tempera Mural Art from Malayadipatti and Adiyamankottai Temple, Tamil Nadu, India

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Authors

Anjali Sharma
Department of Conservation, National Museum Institute, Janpath, New Delhi 110 011, India
Manager Rajdeo Singh
Department of Tourism Administration, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar 431 004, India
S. Vinodh Kumar
Conservation Research Laboratory, Ajanta Caves, Archaeological Survey of India, Padmapani Bhawan, Dr BAMU Campus, Aurangabad 431 004, India
Manoj Pratap Singh
Department of Advanced Instrumental Research Facility, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110 067, India

Abstract


Eight micro-samples from mural paintings of Malayadipatti and Adiyamankottai temples in Tamil Nadu, India were studied using binocular microscopy, thin film crystal X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, micro-Raman spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy to understand the original constituent materials of the pigments, binders and the methods of painting. Red paint had a mixture of cinnabar and hematite. The yellow colour resulted from orpiment. Orange hues were produced a mixture of orpiment and hematite. Grey colour was produced by a mixture of calcium carbonate and manganese dioxide. Black tones were prepared primarily using lamp black. The minerals used in both the temples were nearly identical. The appearance of proteinaceous materials/oils as a binding medium in all samples indicated the use of a tempera wall painting technique. These findings help improve our understanding of the methods and materials used in mural arts and serve as a guide for their future restoration.

Keywords


Art Restoration, Binders, Mural Paintings, Pigments.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv125%2Fi8%2F853-864