An Objective Colour-Measuring System for the Recording of Egyptian Tomb Paintings *

The standard of documentation of the colours used in the relief and painting of Egyptian monuments has not been as satisfactory as that of the documentation of the decoration itself. Recent approaches have involved the use of colour charts as a resolution of this problem. There is a certain lack of objectivity in this, as well as many practical difficulties. A Minolta CR-221 colorimeter has been taken into the field to attempt a more objective approach. This paper is concerned with the theoretical and practical aspects of using a colorimeter to document colours; it concludes that the instrument is of great value if properly used.