The Science of Color: Pigments Through the Ages

The history of oil painting is intrinsically linked to the history of chemistry. Early Renaissance palettes were limited to earth tones—ochers, siennas, and umbers—alongside expensive imports like ultramarine, made from ground lapis lazuli. The Industrial Revolution introduced synthetic pigments that changed the art world: Prussian Blue (the first modern synthetic pigment), Chrome Yellow, and Cobalt Violet. Today, the color index names (e.g., PB29 for Ultramarine) inform artists about the chemical composition and permanence of their colors. Understanding pigment chemistry is vital for artists, as some colors are “fugitive” (fade in light), while others, like the iron oxides, are permanent for millennia.