Color Paintings of Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Royal Residence: An Analytical Study

Color paintings have much aesthetic value and historical importance. This study examined the color of east pillar Taiping Heavenly Kingdom’s Great Hall. The pillars in interiors ancient buildings were painted with a layer red lacquer. are valuable because they symbolize highest rank building’s hierarchy esteemed status owner. In this study, we investigated pigments, inorganic fillers, adhesives used royal residence. Energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry, polarized light microscopy, Raman spectroscopy to investigate pigments paintings. Pyrolysis–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (Py–GC/MS) was classify composition adhesives. results showed that included vermilion (HgS), graphite (C), white lead (2PbCO3·Pb(OH)2), (Pb3O4). Py–GC/MS possible presence tung oil flour mortar. diffraction demonstrated limewater brick dust (gismondine, dolomite). analyses pigment, palace provide information on long-standing preservation