Early Uses of Pigments

The Chemistry of Art > 1. Pigments in Painting > Early Uses of Pigments >

The early uses of pigments for Cave drawings, Self-decoration including cosmetics and Preparation of the dead for burial

Cave drawings:

• Naturally occurring pigments, sometimes mixed with saliva, were drawn directly on cave walls
• Common colours used were red, white, brown, yellow, black
• Ochre (reds and yellows) colours were due to iron (III) oxide in anhydrous or hydrated form
  • Red = Fe₂O₃ (anhydrous)
  • Yellow = Fe₂O₃. H₂O (hydrated)
  • Brown = FeO(OH) or Limonite

Self – decoration:

• Cinnabar and vermillion (HgS or mercury (II) sulfide) were used by the Romans as blush and lipstick
• Health risks of long term use include
  • Highly toxic by ingestion, inhalation and skin contact
  • Cumulative poison leads to CNS and kidney damage

Preparation of Dead/ Burial:

• Bodies in ancient Egypt were painted as they were in life

          Example:  Kohl (Mn0₂) used to line eyes

• Organs removed and replaced with fluid containing a mixture of resins
• Containers of cosmetics were often entombed with the body