orpiment + gold + yellow dye

Ingredients

orpiment, gold, yellow dye (saffron or turmeric), gypsum

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

To produce a 'very bright and pale yellow', orpiment was combined with gypsum (as white) and yellow dye (p. 148). In some areas (folios 62, 92), gold was also included in the mixture (p. 147).

Evidence

"the painters have combined orpiment with other materials such as gold, yellow dyes (possibly saffron or turmeric), gold and gypsum"

Remarks

The presence of Ca and S in XRF suggests gypsum. FOMF showed maximum fluorescence at 530 and 570 nm, confirming the organic yellow dye (p. 147). The author notes the possibility that gold and gypsum peaks arise from underlying layers rather than the mixture itself, as the yellow layer is thin and weak (p. 148).