vermilion

Castile
13th Century
Source: Vieira, M.; Melo, M.J.; Nabais, P.; Lopes, J.A.; Lopes, G.V.; Fernández, L.F. (2024). The Colors in Medieval Illuminations through the Magnificent Scriptorium of Alfonso X, the Learned. Heritage, 7(1), 272-300.
Recipe Details

Preparation Steps

In the Rich codex, vermilion was applied without additives as a pure paint (p. 279). In the Musicians' codex, it was used for both writing and illuminations (p. 281, 282). In Lapidary, light-colored areas suggest a potential mixture with lead white to adjust the hue (p. 281).

Original Recipe Text

In the Rich codex, vermilion was applied without additives as a pure paint (p. 279). In the Musicians' codex, it was used for both writing and illuminations (p. 281, 282). In Lapidary, light-colored areas suggest a potential mixture with lead white to adjust the hue (p. 281).

Evidence

"Vermilion was used in the illuminations and the initials... identified through Raman spectroscopy, vermilion by its main bands at 256 (deltaS-Hg-S), 287, and 345 cm-1 (nuHg-S)."

Remarks

Black was mixed with vermilion to obtain brown in the Musicians' codex, Lapidary, and Book of Games (p. 290).

Scientific Analysis
Chemical CompositionHgS
Analytical Techniques
Raman
Certainty Level
Confirmed
Instrumentally Verified
Verified
Metadata
Material Type
pigment
ColorRed
RegionCastile
Approx. Year1250
Source Information
AuthorVieira, M.; Melo, M.J.; Nabais, P.; Lopes, J.A.; Lopes, G.V.; Fernández, L.F.
CollectionRoyal Library of the El Escorial Monastery
Language
N/A
AI Suggestions
Find similar recipes based on ingredients and preparation methods.
    vermilion (13th Century) | Islamic Ink Atlas