CINNABAR
Cinnabar, a mythical pigment, the only true red of the past. In Roman times the mines were guarded and extracted pieces of the precious stone, dark as liver, were brought to Rome by soldiers. In Greece, we trace the colour in Acropolis and the second royal tomb of Vergina, besides the numerous byzantine artworks. It was after the 13th century AD, when the alchemists managed to create synthetic cinnabar ( a mercuric sulfide) called vermillion. At a low cost, it took Europe by thunder and equally replaced the old powder in tempera and oil. When it comes to fresco though, vermillion is useless and only cinnabar is stable enough to withstand the attack of lime. For such cases, we supply real cinnabar in small doses of 25 grams -upon request only.
Chemical formula HgS
