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Pigment name:
Sodium Magnesium
Indian yellow is made from the urine of cows fed on a special diet of mango leaves. The specific compound responsible for its vibrant yellow color is uncertain.
Indian yellow was used in India since ancient times and became popular in Europe during the 18th and 19th centuries.
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Tyrian purple is derived from the secretions of certain species of sea snails, particularly the Murex shellfish. The snails produce a purple dye called "murexide" or "6,6'-dibromoindigo."
Tyrian purple was highly valued in ancient civilizations such as the Phoenicians, Greeks, and Romans. It was an expensive and luxurious dye, often reserved for royalty and the elite. Its production required a significant number of snails, making it rare and prestigious.
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Pigment name:
Lapis Lazuli
The blue color is produced by the presence of the mineral lazurite in Lapis Lazuli. The crystal structure of lazurite absorbs red light, resulting in a blue appearance.
Lapis Lazuli has been used as a pigment since ancient times, notably by the ancient Egyptians and in Renaissance paintings.
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Cadmium sulfide is responsible for the vibrant red color. Its crystal structure absorbs most of the green and blue light, reflecting primarily red light.
Cadmium-based pigments were first synthesized in the early 20th century and became widely used in the art world due to their intense red color and lightfastness.
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Pigment name:
Lead Antimonate
Naples yellow is composed of lead antimonate and lead oxide. It produces a range of pale yellow to brown shades depending on its composition.
Naples yellow has a long history and was used in ancient Roman frescoes. It remained popular until the 19th century, when its toxic nature became a concern.
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Titanium dioxide reflects most of the visible light, giving it a white appearance. The high refractive index of titanium dioxide particles contributes to its opacity.
Titanium white has been used as a white pigment since the mid-19th century and gained popularity due to its brightness, stability, and coverage capabilities.
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Pigment name:
Iron Oxides
Iron oxide pigments in various forms, such as hematite and goethite, give burnt sienna its warm reddish-brown color.
Iron oxide pigments have been used for thousands of years, including in prehistoric cave paintings. Burnt sienna was commonly used by Renaissance artists.
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Chromium oxide absorbs red and blue light, while reflecting green light, resulting in its characteristic green shade.
Viridian green, also known as chrome oxide green, was introduced in the 19th century and became popular among landscape painters. It replaced toxic copper-based greens.
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Pigment name:
Iron Hexacyanoferrate
Prussian blue is a deep blue pigment created through the reaction between iron salts and potassium ferrocyanide. The resulting compound has a complex crystal structure that absorbs red and green light.
Prussian blue was discovered in the early 18th century and became widely used in art and as a dye for textiles.
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Aureolin yellow, also known as cobalt yellow, is a bright yellow pigment composed of potassium cobaltinitrite. The compound's crystal structure allows it to reflect yellow light while absorbing other wavelengths.
Aureolin yellow was introduced in the 19th century as a substitute for toxic lead-based yellows. It was widely used by Impressionist painters and has a characteristic vibrant hue.
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Pigment name:
Natural Iron Oxides
Indian red is a deep red pigment made from natural iron oxides. The specific composition of the iron oxides determines the shade of red.
Indian red has been used for thousands of years, including in ancient cave paintings. It was commonly used as a pigment in traditional Indian art and found popularity in Europe during the 18th and 19th centuries.
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Mummy brown was made from the ground-up remains of Egyptian mummies. It contained various organic materials, including bitumen and resin, which contributed to its dark brown color.
Mummy brown gained popularity in the 16th and 17th centuries but eventually fell out of favor due to ethical concerns.
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Pigment name:
Copper Arsenite
Scheele's green is a bright green pigment made from copper arsenite. The compound's chemical properties cause it to reflect green light while absorbing red and blue wavelengths.
Scheele's green was widely used in the 19th century, but its toxicity and potential health risks led to its decline.
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Gamboge yellow is a gum resin derived from trees belonging to the Garcinia family. It contains pigments such as gambogic acid, which gives it a bright yellow color.
Gamboge yellow has been used in Asian art for centuries and found popularity in Europe during the 18th and 19th centuries.
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Pigment name:
Cochineal Insects
Carmine is a deep red pigment derived from the crushed bodies of female cochineal insects. The insects produce carminic acid, which creates the red color.
Carmine has been used since ancient times, notably by the Aztecs and Maya civilizations. It became popular in Europe during the Renaissance and Baroque periods and remained in use until synthetic red dyes were developed.
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Manganese violet is a purple pigment made from manganese ammonium pyrophosphate. The compound's crystal structure reflects violet and blue light while absorbing other wavelengths.
Manganese violet was introduced in the late 19th century and gained popularity among artists due to its lightfastness and range of purple shades. It was commonly used in Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings.
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Pigment name:
Copper Acetoarsenite
Emerald green is a bright green pigment composed of copper acetoarsenite. The compound's crystal structure absorbs red and blue light, resulting in a green appearance.
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