Historical-Religious Murals: Factors Affecting the Restorer’s Role by Considering the Perception of the Target Audience

In order to maintain the operation of many historical-religious monuments like tombs (Buqāʿ), Tikyas, and Imāmzādas among their target audiences in cities and villages, it is important to observe their narrational-religious frescos and restore them. The study was conducted with the aim of examining the factors contributing to the restorer’s role in the figurative reconstruction of these monuments. The study confronts the following question: What are the determining factors of the restorer’s role in restoring these murals by considering the audience’s perception? In order to solve this problem, the study has applied the quantitative method and has used a questionnaire and library studies for data collection. Samples were chosen from among the target audiences of the murals who build cultural-social connections with these works. Statistical Inferential tests (One-Sample T-test and Chi-Square) were administered to analyze the results. The findings suggest that various factors may aid the restorer in establishing an objective for restoration. The factors may also influence the restorer’s methods of restoration. These include: the monuments’ cultural and social value, the expectations of target audience, their mental backgrounds, the monuments’ identity and operation, painting narratives, the value function of the works, and ethical principles regarding restoration.