History of Orpiment:
Known to the Greeks as arsenikon and related to the Persian zarnikh which is based on the word zar, the Persian for gold. Known since ancient times its export to Europe was at one time prolific with large supplies reportedly leaving the Yunnan province of China. Mentioned by Pliny and Vitruvious and found in Egyptian works, Persian and across Asia. It seems to have had little known use in Northern Europe where lead tin yellow seems to have been one of the dominant yellows in a European palette. During the Renaissance, orpiment was imported to Venice from Asia Minor.
When was Orpiment used?
| Discovery | Used until |
|---|---|
| Antiquity (Egyptians) | 19th century |
Use of Orpiment among paintings in the SchackGallery, Munich:
Source: Kühn
Other yellows
(intro) - Cadmium yellow/red - Chrome yellow - Cobalt yellow - Indian yellow - Lead-tin yellow - Lemon yellow - Naples yellow - Orpiment - Yellow ochre
(intro) - Cadmium yellow/red - Chrome yellow - Cobalt yellow - Indian yellow - Lead-tin yellow - Lemon yellow - Naples yellow - Orpiment - Yellow ochre