Vermeillon

Vermeillon is a brilliant red pigment traditionally made from cinnabar, a mineral form of mercuric sulfide. Historically, it was one of the most prized and expensive pigments available due to the scarcity and difficulty of processing cinnabar. The vibrant, opaque scarlet hue of vermillon made it highly sought after in painting, illumination, and decorative arts. Its production involved grinding cinnabar into a fine powder and then purifying it through various methods, often including washing with water to remove impurities.

The use of vermillon dates back to ancient civilizations, including Egypt, Greece, and Rome, where it was employed in frescoes, manuscripts, and murals. Its intense color and permanence contributed to its widespread adoption across various cultures and time periods. However, the toxicity of mercury, a component of cinnabar, meant that its production and handling were hazardous. In more recent times, synthetic vermillon pigments have been developed, offering similar visual properties without the inherent risks associated with mercuric sulfide. These modern alternatives have largely replaced natural vermillon in many applications.