Yellow colorants in modern art

Sabine Wolters <wolters [at] leland__stanford__edu> writes

>I am writing my dissertation on the Color Yellow in Modern Art (19th
>and 20th century). Tom Seligman (Cantor Arts Center) suggested I get
>in touch with you and ask for information about the history of
>yellow pigments, its use and conservation.
>
>    Did Cadmium Yellow have a special influence on Modern Art?
>    What role does sulphur play?
>    When were Naples yellows invented?

In response to the above, the author might try the following:

    Painting Materials A Short Encyclopedia by Rutherford J. Gettens
    and George L. Stout,  1st ed. D. Van Nostrand Company Inc,1942,
    2nd ed. Dover Publications, Inc., New York,1966.  I think it's
    out of print now.

        Gettens & Stout say the history of Naples Yellow is:
        "obscure;" they mention the compound of lead and antimony
        was found in Babylonian and Assyrian ceramic glazes and in
        cake form in Sargon II's palace at Khorsabad as well as in
        Egyptian glass of the XIX Dynasty.

    Artists' Pigments c.1600-1835, a Study in English Documentary
    Sources by Rosamond D. Harley, London Butterworths, 1970

    The Artist's Craft: a History of Tools, Techniques and
    Materials, by James Ayre  Oxford Phaidon 1985

Sharon Connell
Paper Conservator
Leeds University Library
England

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 12:90
                   Distributed: Tuesday, May 25, 1999
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