Scientific Investigation of the Materials in a Chinese Ming Dynasty Wall Painting

Abstract

In the frame of the cooperation project Rescue and Conserve the Endangered Wall Paintings in the Museums of China, systematic investigations concerning the materials and techniques used in the wall paintings detached from a Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) temple, Dazhao Temple in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia of China, as well as the previous conservation intervention materials have been carried out. X-ray Fluorescence Analysis (XRF), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy in combination with Energy Dispersive X-ray microanalysis (SEM/EDX) were used for the identification of inorganic materials in the wall paintings, while Pyrolysis in combination of Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) was applied for the characterization of organic materials. Pigments including cinnabar, lead white, atacamite/para-atacamite, orpiment, ochre, minium, carbon black and smalt were identified. The binding medium in the painting was determined as animal glue. Alkyd is an uncommon consolidant in the conservation of Chinese wall paintings, but it could be determined in this object, where conservation treatments were performed in the 1950s.

Keywords

• XRF
• XRD
• SEM/EDX
• Py-GC-MS
• Chinese wall painting
• Dazhao Temple