Pigments through the Ages

              
/ vir • mill • eon /
Vermilion
 
 
   

     
 

  1.  Overview  
  2. History
of use
 
  3. Making the
pigment
 
  4. Technical
details
 
  
  Brief description of Vermilion:   
       An orangish red pigment with excellent hiding power and good permanence. 

  Names for Vermilion:   
        
Pronounciation:
vir • mill • eon
Word origin:
The name "Vermilion" comes from Latin vermiculus = small worm, cochineal (which yields a red dye), from vermis = worm.
Non-English names:
 German  
 
 French  
 
 Italian 
 Zinnober 
 vermillon; mineral: cinabre 
 vermiglio; mineral: cinabro 
Chemical name:
mercuric sulfide

A painted swatch of Vermilion:

  

  Source of Vermilion:   
        
Natural minerals:

Mineral cinnabar (at Mineralogy Database)


Other reds        
(intro) - Madder lake (alizarine) - realgar - red lead - Red ochre - vermilion        

 Sections:  

  purples  

  blues  

  greens  

  yellows  

  oranges  

  reds  

  whites  

  browns  

  blacks  

    
 Look for:    
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