SC - (Fwd) Re: Colours in period paintings

[Erin Kenny]

I asked my husband for his opinion on the pigment issue (remember the 
carrots?).  He is a fine artist (well, now he makes his living 
programming, but that's another story), and his primary area of study 
these days (in the SCA) is Renaissance painting (styles, pigments, 
etc).

Here's what he has to say:

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I'm not an expert but...

Red tends to fade towards a muddy brownish red as well as lightening
up.  A "muddy brownish light red" looks somewhat orange, so I guess
it is possible that a red pigment to be "orange-ish" with age.

On the other hand, if the orange is a bright orange, it was probably
always orange (ie painted orange), and was painted using non-organic
pigment.

Most period colours that changed colour were natural pigments that,
well, rotten with age, leaving them turning brownish.  This continued
for as long as natural, organic pigments were used.  Most modern
pigments are stable chemicals rather than organic.

Stuart
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Claricia Nyetgale
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