Virtual reconstruction on original color of color-faded painting on bronze mirrors supported by non-destructive spectroscopic techniques

• Non-destructive spectroscopic techniques reveal the pigment distribution and color pattern on faded painting. • Micro-destructive analysis reveals the characterization of paintings techniques on bronze. • We propose a new method to virtually reconstruct color-faded painting on bronze. • The method improves the objectivity of reconstruction. Virtual reconstruction of color-faded painting on bronze mirrors relies on limited information. Existing techniques face significant difficulties in the recognition and reconstruction of missing patterns at both structural and iconographic levels. Painting on bronze in burial environments is prone to decay, fading, contamination, and corrosion, leading to defective areas. Reconstruction of patterns is crucial for archeology and art history. Moreover, the complex and irregular patterns of painting pose a further challenge. A method is proposed to resolve these issues. Concretely, pigment types, particle sizes, painting stratigraphy and technique were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy; these data were used to re-create the original color palette of the painting. The exact distribution of each pigment and the color patterns were ascertained by macroscopic X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and hyperspectral imaging to re-create the line drawing. Digital coloring of the line drawing with palette values virtually reconstructs the original colors and appearance of the painting on the bronze mirrors under ideal conditions. The study demonstrates improvements in the faithful reproduction of the original colors on painted bronze and provides new perspectives for the study of painted bronzes.