Explore the fascinating world of pigments housed at Harvard University’s Forbes Pigment Collection. Pigments are tiny colored particles mixed with a binding medium to create paint. The collection contains around 2,500 pigments—many rare and unusual. Some come from surprising sources: “dragon’s blood,” a vivid red, is extracted from rattan palms, not mythical creatures. “Mummy brown” is made from the resin on ancient Egyptian mummy bandages. Indian yellow, one of the rarest, comes from the dried urine of cows fed only on mango leaves. Other pigments include beetles from cacti, insects from oak trees, and even lead soaked in vinegar.
Art historians and restorers use pigment analysis to determine whether parts of a painting are original or restorations. Some pigments, such as emerald green, which contains arsenic, are highly toxic, so handlers must be cautious. By analyzing pigments, experts can also verify if a work was likely created during an artist's lifetime—if not, it may be misattributed. The curator humorously declines to choose a favorite pigment, likening the collection to children who would feel left out. This collection is thus both scientifically important and emotionally rich.
Vocabulary:
• Pigment (noun): a tiny colored substance used in paint.
• Binding medium (noun): the liquid that holds pigment particles and makes paint.
• Resin (noun): a sticky natural material from plants used in pigments.
• Mummy (noun): a preserved ancient Egyptian body wrapped in bandages.
• Urine (noun): liquid waste from the body, used here unusually to make pigment.
• Toxic (adjective): dangerous or poisonous to health.
• Restoration (noun): repair work to return something to its original condition.
• Authenticity (noun): the quality of being real or genuine.
• Misattributed (adjective): wrongly credited to someone who didn’t make it.
Source: Great Big Story