Pigments

This space contains the information supplied by manufacturers and distributors, as well as bibliographic references on their use and properties.

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Amarillo de cadmio
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Cadmium Yellow
Greenockite and hawleyite are found in nature as cadmium sulfide minerals, often appearing as a yellowish coating on sphalerite (zinc sulfide).
Amarillo de cromo
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Chromium Yellow
Lead chromate occurs in nature in the form of a mineral known as crocoite, first described in 1776 by J.G. Lehmann. The chromate ion CrO42-combines with various metals to form compounds that can be used as pigments.
Amarillo de Nápoles
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Naples Yellow
As a pigment it has been rediscovered throughout history. Its greatest popularity in European painting was during the 1750s until 1850, to be gradually replaced by chromium yellow and cadmium sulfide.
Amarillo ocre
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Yellow Ochre
Ochres are prepared by washing, levigation and grinding, they inevitably contain impurities. These methods have been used since Paleolithic times. Ochre yellows may be more brownish, reddish or purplish, depending on the degree of oxidation.
Amarillo de plomo y estaño
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Lead and Tin Yellow
The first studies of this pigment were the analyses carried out in 1941 by Jacobi. In the studies of the Doerner Institute paints, it was found that in most of the samples the yellow was a lead compound with high levels of tin.
Bermellón
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Vermilion
In the 18th century, vermilion was imported into England from Amsterdam on a regular basis until 1760, while Chinese was imported occasionally. From the second half of the 18th century it was imported from both China and Germany.
Azul de cobalto
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Cobalt Blue
Cobalt blue pigment is a mixture of cobalt oxide and aluminum oxide. Cobalt ore is not widespread in nature, although it has been used for ceramics and glass for more than 4500 years.
Azul de esmalte
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Smalt Blue
The first natural source of enamel was the mineral called skutterudite, named after the locality where it was found in Skutterud, Norway. This mineral is also known historically as "smaltite" in relation to its use as an enamel.
Azul de Prusia
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Prussian Blue
Prussian blue has had many denominations, some of these indicate the variety of physical properties that have been given in the process of obtaining it. We can find different denominations according to its chemical composition.
Azul de ultramar sintético
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Synthetic Ultramarine Blue
The first references to this pigment are mentioned by Goethe, who observed blue deposits on the walls of lime kilns near Palermo in 1787. He points out that the blue crystals were being pulled out to be used as a substitute for lapis lazuli.
Azul de ultramar natural
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Natural Ultramarine Blue
Lapis lazuli is a mineral belonging to the soladite group, which occurs in different areas of the world. One of the best known is the Kokcha Valley, Afghanistan, where it is believed that the largest amount of lapis lazuli used in Europe.
Azurita
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Azurite
It is a secondary mineral in the weathered zone of copper deposits. Azurite is a mineral that always appears associated with malachite, another basic green copper carbonate, more abundant in nature.
Blanco de bario
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Barium White
Baryte occurs naturally as a barium sulfate mineral (BaSO4) and can also be obtained artificially. In the 18th century the mineral is named as hard bar (Schwerspath) and Terra ponderosa vitriolata.
Blanco de titanio
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Titanium White
In 1791 William Gregor discovers the element titanium. In 1795 M.H. Klaproth, a German chemist, names it "titanium". Research and development of the pigment titanium dioxide white appeared simultaneously in Norway and the United States.
Blanco de Zinc
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Zinc White
Known since ancient times as a by-product in the reaction of copper with zinc carbonate. In 1721 Henkel obtained zinc from smithsonite using a process that he kept secret.