Elena Rossi
The use of red paint dates back to prehistoric times, with ancient civilisations using natural pigments from clay, dried bugs, and berries to create various shades of red. Today, there are over 40 varieties of red paint, each with unique compositions and characteristics. The type of pigment used in red paint can vary depending on the desired shade, transparency, lightfastness, and toxicity level. For instance, Vermilion, a traditional red pigment, is known for its strong orange tone, while Carmine, a bright true red, has incredible tinting strength. Artists can also adjust the warmth or coolness of a red paint by mixing it with different shades of white or black. This versatility allows artists to create a wide range of red hues, making it an essential colour to understand and utilise in the artistic palette.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Historical sources of red pigment | Clay, dried bugs, berries, iron oxides, cinnabar, mercury and sulfur, cochineal, kermes, and vermilion |
| Red pigments in ancient art | Cave paintings in Lascaux, France, Chinese pottery, costumes from the Renaissance, Indian culture |
| Creating red pigments | Mixing with white for brighter shades, mixing with black for darker shades, adding grey for duller shades |
| Common red pigments | Carmine, Rose Madder, Alizarin Crimson, Vermilion, Quinacridone Red, Cadmium Red |
| Lightfastness | Some red pigments like Carmine and Alizarin Crimson are prone to fading |
| Toxicity | Vermilion is poisonous, modern paints are less toxic |
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What You'll Learn
Historical use of red paint
The use of red paint dates back to prehistoric times, with red earth pigments being used by artists in the Upper Paleolithic age. Natural pigments such as red ochre, made from clay with an iron oxide called hematite, and iron oxide itself were readily available and used in cave paintings in France and Spain dating back to between 15,000 and 25,000 BC. Red ochre was also used by ancient Egyptians for wall paintings and cosmetics, and by monks and hermits in India for dyeing their robes.
Vermilion, a very ancient red-orange pigment, was made by pulverizing the toxic mineral cinnabar. It was used in ancient China and Rome for paints, lacquers, ceramic glazes, and calligraphy ink reserved for emperors. Vermilion was also used in Indian culture, with married women wearing a dab of vermilion on their foreheads. In the 9th century, a synthetic version of vermilion was created using a compound of mercury and sulfur. Vermilion experienced a rise in popularity in the 16th century, becoming an industry in Venice, the Netherlands, and Germany. However, it was eventually replaced by cadmium red in the 20th century due to the high cost and safety concerns associated with mining cinnabar.
Another source of red pigment was the cochineal insect, which was used by the Incas to dye cotton from 700 BC. The Spanish conquerors recognized the value of cochineal and arranged for its export to Europe. Cochineal was also used in Mexico to create a delicate red lacquer.
In the Middle Ages, recipe books reveal the extreme methods artists pursued to create red paint. One recipe from Lombardy in the 1400s, intended for illuminators, begins with the sentence: "If you want to make a bit of good red paint, take an ox...".
During the Renaissance, the use of oil painting spread, and the transparency of rose madder, a dye extracted from the root of the madder plant, made it ideal for glazing techniques. However, it is not recommended for permanent artist work due to its fugitive nature. In the 19th century, rose madder was largely replaced by alizarin crimson, a synthetic lake pigment.
Other notable red pigments include cadmium red, a byproduct of zinc ore known for maintaining its brightness, and minium, a bright orange-red pigment used in the Middle Ages for illuminated manuscripts.
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Sources of red pigment
Red pigments are usually made from minerals. The brilliant opaque red pigment vermilion, for example, is made by pulverizing the mineral cinnabar. A synthetic version was created in the 9th century with a compound of mercury and sulfur. Other red pigments, such as red ochre, are also made from minerals like hematite, an anhydrous iron oxide and the main ingredient of rust.
However, some red pigments are made from organic materials. Red lake pigments, for instance, are made by mixing organic dyes from insects or plants with white chalk or alum. Red lac, a type of red lake pigment, was made from the gum lac, a dark red resinous substance secreted by scale insects. Carmine lake was made from the cochineal insect from Central and South America, while Kermes lake came from the Kermes vermilio insect found on oak trees around the Mediterranean. Other red lake pigments were made from plants, such as the rose madder and brazilwood trees.
Some red pigments are synthetic and produced artificially. For example, the Naphthol red pigments PR 5, PR 9, PR 112, PR 170, and PR 188 are synthetic organic red pigments that were originally produced as dyes but were later laked to make pigments for artist paints. Alizarin crimson is another synthetic lake pigment that was developed as a replacement for Genuine Rose Madder.
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Creating red paint
To create red paint in various shades, artists can mix yellow with magenta paint, adding small amounts of magenta to a dollop of yellow until the desired red hue is achieved. This technique allows for the creation of an entire palette of colours, from bright fire-engine reds to deep wine reds.
Additionally, tints and shades can be created by lightening hues with white or darkening them with black, respectively. This expands the artistic palette even further, allowing for the expression of emotions and moods in artwork.
Historically, red pigments were often derived from natural sources such as iron oxides like hematite, found in cave paintings dating back to 16,000-25,000 BC. The bright scarlet pigment vermilion was made by grinding the mineral cinnabar, and a synthetic version was later created using mercury and sulfur. Other natural sources for red pigments include insects like cochineal and plants like madder.
Over time, synthetic red pigments were developed, such as the Cadmium, Azo, Pyrrole, Quinacridone, and Benzimidazolone groups. These synthetic pigments expanded the range of red hues available to artists, offering brighter and more lightfast options.
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Toxicity of red paint
Red pigments have historically been made from iron oxides like hematite, which was used in cave paintings in France between 16,000 and 25,000 BC. Another ancient pigment, vermilion, was made by pulverizing the mineral cinnabar and has been used in India by married women as a forehead dot. Vermilion is toxic, as it contains mercury sulphide, and was used predominantly by European artists from the Renaissance to the 20th century.
Other toxic red pigments include Cadmium Red, which is prized as the best red hue available, and Cobalt pigments. Cadmium was discovered by a German chemist in 1817 and is now rarely used due to its toxicity and the environmental impact of artists washing their brushes, which contaminates the water supply. Artists have reported that long-term exposure to cadmium has resulted in liver damage and even liver failure.
Some artists still use toxic substances like lead carbonate and sulfate, which is known as White Lead, due to its unique brightness. Artists are advised to wear latex gloves while painting and to avoid putting paintbrushes in their mouths. It is also recommended to keep food and drink away from the studio and to dispose of paint with kitchen towels rather than washing it down the drain.
Some red pigments are made from natural sources, such as the cochineal insect from Central and South America, which produces a deep purplish-red colour. Madder is another example of a natural pigment, made from the plant Rubia tinctorum. These natural pigments tend to be less toxic than their synthetic counterparts, but they are prone to fading.
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Cultural significance of red
Red is a colour with a wide range of cultural significance and symbolism across the world.
In China, red is a symbol of fire and the south, carrying a largely positive connotation. It is associated with courage, loyalty, honour, success, fortune, fertility, happiness, passion, and summer. In Chinese weddings, brides traditionally wear red dresses, and red paper is used to wrap gifts of money or other objects. During Chinese New Year celebrations, families give monetary gifts in special red envelopes. Red is also a colour of festivities and happiness in Chinese culture.
In India, brides traditionally wear a red sari, called the "sari of blood", offered by their father as a symbol of fertility and the transfer of paternal duties to the new husband. Married women in India also wear a red pigment called sindoor at the hairline of their foreheads.
In Japan, red is a traditional colour for a heroic figure, and brides can wear either a white kimono or bright colours, including red.
In Russia, red is also significant, with the ancient Russian words for "beautiful" and "red" being identical. Many places in Russia are associated with the colour red, such as the Red Square and the city of Krasnodar. Red is a predominant colour in Russian folk costumes, handicrafts, and traditional songs.
In Africa, the cultural significance of red varies. While the Ndembu people of Central Africa view red as ambivalent, in other parts of the continent, it is a colour of mourning, representing death. Due to the association of red with death, the Red Cross has changed its colours to green and white in some African countries.
Red has also been associated with power and revolution. World leaders, such as Princess Elizabeth I, have used red clothing to showcase their power. Revolutionaries around the world, from the French Revolution to the Cuban Revolution, have adopted the colour to symbolise new liberties and freedoms.
Additionally, red is the colour of blood and, throughout history, has been associated with love, passion, importance, and vitality. It is often used in weddings across different cultures to symbolise love and fidelity.
The colour red elicits strong reactions and holds a prominent place in the cultural traditions of societies worldwide.
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Frequently asked questions
Some red paint pigments include vermilion, cochineal, red ochre, rose madder, alizarin crimson, carmine, quinacridone, and cadmium red.
Different types of red paint can have more pigment by including a higher concentration of pigment in the paint mixture. Additionally, certain pigments have higher tinting strength, such as alizarin crimson and carmine red.
Red paint pigments have been sourced from clay, dried bugs, and berries throughout history. Red ochre, for example, is made from clay that contains an iron oxide called hematite, giving it a distinct red tone. Vermilion, another traditional red pigment, was made by pulverizing the mineral cinnabar. Cochineal, a red pigment made from insects, was produced by the Incas to dye cotton as early as 700 BC.
To make red paint brighter, add white. A warmer or cooler shade of red can be created by choosing a warm or cool white to mix into the red paint. To make red paint darker, mix it with black.
