vermilion

Vermilion is a vivid red pigment and color name derived from cinnabar, the natural mineral form of mercuric sulfide (HgS). In pigments, vermilion refers to the bright red to orange-red material produced from ground cinnabar ore; since the 19th century, synthetic mercuric sulfide has largely supplanted natural vermilion in many applications.

Cinnabar occurs as red crystals and has been mined since ancient times in places such as Spain’s Almadén, China, and Peru. The pigment’s intense color and opacity made it highly prized for illuminated manuscripts, paintings, lacquerware, and cosmetics in various cultures. Natural vermilion could be expensive and variable in shade, while synthetic vermilion offered greater consistency.

Because it contains mercury, vermilion is hazardous, and handling pigment dust requires precautions. Mercury compounds are toxic if inhaled or ingested, and regulatory restrictions limit its use in consumer products today. Vermilion is also known as the color vermilion, a bright red with orange undertones, used in art and design to convey brightness and warmth.

Vermilion remains a historical benchmark in color and pigment science, illustrating the long-standing interaction between mineral sources, synthetic chemistry, and artistic practice. In modern contexts, safer red pigments are often preferred for cosmetic, artistic, and industrial applications, but vermilion endures in art history and color nomenclature as a key example of mercuric sulfide pigment.

See also: cinnabar; mercuric sulfide.