Analysis of an Ancient Architectural Painting from the Jiangxue Palace in the Imperial Museum, Beijing, China

A groundbreaking analysis of ancient architectural paintings from the Jiangxue Palace, part of Beijing's UNESCO-listed Imperial Museum, reveals intricate multi-layered structures using pigments like emerald green and lead white. The study employed advanced techniques such as ultra-depth three-dimensional microscopy and Raman spectroscopy to uncover the composition of pigments, binders (tung oil), and fillers (flour) in the plaster base, along with the underlying red minium foundation. These findings significantly advance our understanding of Ming and Qing dynasty painting techniques, providing critical insights for the preservation and restoration of this world cultural heritage site.

Fu, P., Teri, G., Li, J., Huo, Y., Yang, H., & Li, Y. (2020). Analysis of an Ancient Architectural Painting from the Jiangxue Palace in the Imperial Museum, Beijing, China. Analytical Letters, 54(4), 684–697. https://doi.org/10.1080/00032719.2020.1778014