Abstract
Iron-containing earth minerals of various hues were the earliest pigments of the prehistoric artists who dwelled in caves. Being a prominent part of human expression through art, nature-derived pigments have been used in continuum through ages until now. Studies reveal that the primitive artist stored or used his pigments as color cakes made out of skin or reeds. Although records to help understand the technical details of Indian painting in the early periodare scanty, there is a certain amount of material from which some idea may be gained regarding the methods used by the artists to obtain their results. Considering Indian wall paintings, the most widely used earth pigments include red, yellow, and green ochres, making it fairly easy for the modern era scientific conservators and researchers to study them. The present knowledge on material sources given in the literature is limited and deficient as of now, hence the present work attempts to elucidate the range of earth pigments encountered in Indian wall paintings and the scientific studies and characterization by analytical techniques that form the knowledge background on the topic. Studies leadingto well-founded knowledge on pigments can contribute towards the safeguarding of Indian cultural heritage as well as spread awareness among conservators, restorers, and scholars.
Highlights
Since time immemorial, wall paintings have been done in almost all countries
Thermal gravimetric analysis consists of three methods which are thermogravimetry (TG), differential thermal analysis (DTA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)
TG measures variations in the weight of materials caused by temperature variations, which are intimately related to their chemical, structural, and textural properties
Summary
Wall paintings have been done in almost all countries. The artistic style was primitive, and the techniques were very basic, with the paint being applied directly onto the rock surface. More complex designs and figures were painted on walls, which were often prepared with several layers of plaster [1]. The uses and evidence of earth pigments in the India begin with the hematite and quartz crystals found in the Acheulian deposits of the Lower Paleolithic period. One such hematite specimen was discovered in the exposed floor of Hunsgi (Karnataka), locality
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