Characterization of Indian pigments: investigating the color palette of a traditional Jaipuri workshop

A collection of forty-two pigments and artists’ materials from the workshop of traditional Indian miniature artist, Mr. Babulal Marotia, are analyzed scientifically. A combination of microscopic, spectroscopic, and crystallographic techniques is used to comprehensively characterize the materials, including SEM-EDS, M-FTIR, Raman, PLM, fluorescence spectroscopy, and XRD. The resulting spectral library of the natural and synthetic pigments is being used to better understand and identify the materials used in traditional Indian painting practices, some of which have been generationally maintained and are still used in modern workshops. The study forms part of Harvard University’s Mapping Color in History project, which is developing an open-source database documenting pigments used in South Asian paintings and related manuscripts.