Insights Into Naples Yellow: Unfiltered Chat With Artist Eric Johnson

[@diegoallcore]

Interesting approach to materials and very inspiring chat

[@ThisisRubbishlo]

Favourite range of yellow, Naples such a good range

[@RublevColours]

Thanks!

[@mariebrennan8399]

Very helpful!

[@chrisgriffith1573]

What is the pigment Naples yellow made from? Is it a clay? A rock? Is lead tin the only part of it? Animative oxides?? What is that?

[@RublevColours]

Naples yellow is lead antimoniate and is one of the earliest synthetic pigments in human history. It is a compound of lead oxide and antimony oxide.

[@chrisgriffith1573]

@@RublevColours I see how little I know about physical chemistry and basic elements now.

[@sohelpervas4821]

I am very confused about the permenency and lightfastness of lead tin yellow oil paint. Please tell me about the lightfastness and permenency of lead tin yellow .

[@RublevColours]

Lead-tin yellow was used in many paintings before the 18th century, so we have a record of its permanence in paintings that are around today.

[@keithblower1091]

I know Nothing of Rublev Naples yellow, but Rowney Georgian is made with a mix of pigments mainly Zinc white and yellow ochre, don't buy it. Most other Georgian pigments are fine, but I think if the pigment list begins with Zinc white it should be avoided,it's a weak semi transparent pigment you can add lots to a mix with little effect.

[@RublevColours]

Genuine and historical Naples Yellow is not a mix of pigments, but a single pigment: lead antimoniate.

[@VolodiaLukianov]

Подскажите, пожалуйста, пигмент для "Неаполитанской Жёлтой", Оксид свинца(II) PbO - это же ядовитое, второй класс опасности, соединение этого тяжёлого металла. Есть ли какие ограничения при его использования или предупреждения от производителя? Спасибо. P.S. Эти краски чрезвычайно токсичны.Попадание внутрь даже 10 мг !!! чистого свинца способно привести к необратимым повреждениям головного мозга. И да, Врубель умер именно от отравления красками...

[@RublevColours]

Naples Yellow is lead antimoniate-not lead oxide-which was a popular artist's oil color from the 17th until the late 20th century when lead pigments were prohibited in consumer products in many countries. In the U.S., artists have had an exemption to use lead pigments in their artwork since the prohibition when it went into effect in the late 1970s. Professional artists in the European Union are allowed to use lead pigments in their artwork and restoration work. You need to study history better, my friend. Mikhail Aleksandrovich Vrubel (March 17, 1856 - April 14, 1910) suffered from psychosis most of his life. In the final years of his life, he was diagnosed with Tabes dorsalis, which is a form of tertiary syphilis that affects the spinal cord. Although he was almost rehabilitated, he had many mental and physical problems that caused complications from which he died. There is no evidence that he suffered from lead poisoning as a result of his paint. This is a common assertion about artists in mainstream media to garner readership, but there is no evidence that any artist died as a result of lead poisoning. Spreading this misinformation damages artists' efforts to paint and produce artwork by causing widespread fear. While precautions should be exercised when handling hazardous materials such as lead white and Naples yellow, artists should use the same care with all materials they handle. Shame on you!

[@Iwanttodrawachicken]

​@RublevColours i would love to see some studies on occupational lifespan for fine art painters as it corresponds to lead use and solvent use. My suspicion is we would find solvents to have more influence on health than lead, but it would be even better if we had some science to back up the theory.