)
Green earth, also known as terre verte and Verona green, is an inorganic pigment derived from the minerals celadonite and glauconite.[1][2][3] Its chemical formula is K[(Al,Fe3+
),(Fe2+
,Mg](AlSi
3,Si
4)O
10(OH)
2.[4]
First used by the ancient Romans, green earth has been identified on wall paintings at Pompeii and Dura-Europos.[5][6] The Renaissance painter and writer Cennino Cennini claimed that “the ancients never gilded except with this green” being used as a bole, or undercoating. In the Middle Ages one of its best-known uses was in the underpainting of flesh tones.[4]
High quality deposits can be found in England, France, Cyprus, Germany and at Monte Baldo near Verona in Italy.[6] The color ranges from neutral yellow green to pale greenish gray to dark matte olive green.[4][3]
See also
- List of inorganic pigments
References
- ^ Green earth Colourlex. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
- ^ Green earth. Pigments through the Ages. www.webexhibits.com. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
- ^ a b St. Clair, Kassia (2016). The Secret Lives of Colour. London: John Murray. p. 224–226. ISBN 9781473630819. OCLC 936144129.
- ^ a b c Common Medieval Pigments. d-scholarship.pitt.edu. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
- ^ Varichon, Anne (2000). Couleurs – pigments et teintures dans les mains des peuples. Seuil. pp. 210–211. ISBN 978-2-02084697-4.
- ^ a b Terre Verte. https://www.library.cornell.edu/preservation/paper/4PigAtlasWestern1.pdf. Retrieved August 30, 2016.