The Matter from Which an Orange Colour Is Made: On the Arsenic Pigment Used in a Portuguese Mannerist Painting
The article discusses the painting “The Descent from the Cross” by Pedro Nunes, created in 1620, which showcases orange-coloured fabrics with conservation challenges. Through detailed analysis using various techniques like scanning electron microscopy and X-ray spectroscopy, it was revealed that the orange colour is attributed to a complex artificial pigment made of amorphous arsenic sulphide. This discovery is significant as it represents a rare documented case of extensive use of artificial arsenic sulphides in European easel painting, particularly outside Italy. The study highlights the unique composition of the pigment, consisting