Analysis of Surface Damage on the Mural Painting in Josadang Shrine of Buseoksa Temple in Yeongju Using Reflectance Transformation Imaging Technology

Abstract

In this study, we examined the effectiveness of RTI(Reflectance Transformation Imaging) method as a digital imaging technology that can accurately and three-dimensionally record the damaged state of mural heritage. For this purpose, major damage types were classified on the mural painting in Josadang shrine of Buseoksa temple in Yeongju, and an RTI was conducted on areas with highly damaged areas. According to the results by the type of damage to the murals, salt weathering damage (58.9-18.2%), painting layer damage (37.9-13.0%), past reinforcement area (9.8-4.2%), biological damage and other contamination (19.8-2.5%), exposed damage to the finishing layer (19.7∼0.7%), past fixative area (2.5∼0.0%), and cracks (0.5∼0.3%) were found to have a high share of damaged area. From the RTI investigation for each damage type, image data was constructed to visually identify the degree of damage. In particular, in the case of microscope-based RTI, it was confirmed that it can be used as an accurate recording technology because it can identify color layer exfoliation, pigment particle shape, and salt crystal shape that are difficult to see in general microscope images. This is a research method that has not been attempted in existing RTI or mural research, and is expected to be applicable in the future not only to murals but also to the field of cultural heritage with painting layers.