Vermilion

History of Vermilion:

Used in China since Ancient times the pigment was known to the Greeks and Romans and was mentioned by Pliny who called it 'minium'. According to Pliny the whole supply of vermilion came from Sisapo in Spain. The pigment was used up until the discovery of cadmium red, when its use dramatically reduced due to its known blackening upon reaction to hydrogen sulphides in the air.

When was Vermilion used?