Preliminary investigation of late Mughal period wall paintings from historic monuments of Begumpura, Lahore

Abstract

Deterioration of wall paintings caused by environmental pollution is a worldwide problem especially with reference to the present industrial era. The alarming incremental trend of pollution in Pakistan has threatened the cultural assets. The deposition of pollutants on historic fabric is the main source of chemical and mineralogical alterations of wall paintings. The present diagnostic study investigated the main deterioration mechanisms affecting wall paintings of the late Mughal period, in the Begumpura Complex, in Lahore. Micro samples were characterized by XRD and SEM-EDS to identify deterioration products and understand deterioration mechanisms prevalent at the heritage site. The results revealed that red ocher, green earth and calcium carbonate were initially used for red, green and white pigments, respectively. Sodium chloride (halite, NaCl) and gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O) were identified as the main deterioration products. Keywords: Deterioration, Wall, Painting, Begumpura, Lahore