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Pompeian pigments researched


guy

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Over the years, numerous ceramic pots containing pigments have been discovered in Pompeii. Recent research seeks to provide insights into these pigments, including the analysis of a previously unknown green pigment.


 

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Pompeian paint workshops relied on two pigments more than any others: Egyptian blue—a complex mixture of sand, copper minerals, calcium carbonate, and ash—and red lead, which was created by roasting lead white. Egyptian blue, for example, was the base for grey and used to brighten yellow and green. Red lead not only enhanced red ochre, but was also the starting point for a range of pinks and acted as a tone corrector for violet. Researchers wrote that the extent to which craftspeople altered firing times, adjusted pigment particle size, and included white pigments to achieve the desired shade of blue was previously unrecognized.

 

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Researchers also discovered a formerly unknown light green pigment that was formed by mixing red ochre, Egyptian blue, and a material containing baryte and alunite, a sulphate deposit formed around volcanos by pressure, heat, and water. It’s the earliest known use of barium sulphate being used as a main coloring material in the Mediterranean. While volcanic systems that produce baryte and alunite are widespread in Italy, future research will aim to accurately identify its source.


 

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/pompeii-paint-workshops-sophisticated-study-2624136?amp=1
 

The scientific study is below:

 

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305440325000500#tbl1

Edited by guy
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