Identification and Evaluation of the Color Palette in the Tilework of the Gonbad-e-Sabz Monument of Mashhad

Document Type : Research

Authors

1 Faculty Member and Instructor, Department of Painting, Ferdows Institute of Higher Education, P.O. Box: 9184915378, Mashhad, Iran.

2 Department of Islamic Art, University of Neyshabur, P. O. Box: 9319774446, Neyshabur, Iran.

10.30509/jscw.2025.167359.1200

Abstract

The Gonbad-e Sabz of Mashhad is a historical monument from the Safavid period. The main decorative elements of this mausoleum consist of exterior tilework dating from the Pahlavi era. This research aims to identify the color palette of the Gonbad-e Sabz’s tilework and quantitatively match these colors according to the Natural Color System (NCS).This research addresses two fundamental questions: First, what are the quantitative equivalents of the Gonbad-e Sabz’s tile color palette based on the NCS standard color system? Second, what are the frequency and chromatic intensity of the tile color palette, and which colors are dominant in this historical monument? The methodology involves field studies and matching the NCS color system with the building’s original tiles. Through this color matching process, 122 color codes from 7 color families were identified and subjected to descriptive-analytical evaluation. Furthermore, the dominant colors, chromatic intensity, and percentage of color variation were determined.The findings reveal that lighter colors exhibit a broader range of variation, while darker colors show less variety and become more uniform.

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