Identification of natural inorganic pigments used on 18th century Korean traditional mural paintings by using a portable X-ray fluorescence

Abstract

Inorganic pigments on 18th century Korean traditional mural paintings were investigated by using a portable XRF. To investigate inorganic pigments, two different mural paintings were chosen. The elements such as Al, Hg, Cu, and Pb were estimated. The main colors of those mural paintings were white, red, and green. Same chemical compositions were detected from those mural paintings, but the red colors were divided into two elements as Hg and Pb. These results showed that the inorganic pigments such as cinnabar (HgS), lead red (Pb3O4), lead white (2PbCO3·Pb(OH)2) and malachite (CuCO3·Cu(OH)2) had been used to draw the mural paintings during 18th century in Korea.