Michael Harding Artists Oil Color - Genuine Naples Yellow Light, 225 ml tube

Pigment Information

This color contains the following pigments:

PY41-Naples Yellow

Pigment Name

PY41-Naples Yellow

Chemical Name

lead(II)-antimonate

Chemical Formula

PB(SbO3)2 or Pb(SbO4)2 or Pb3(SbO4)2

Properties

Naples yellow is a muted, pale, reddish-yellow color with excellent covering power and chemical stability. It is compatible with all other colors. The original pigment was lead based and toxic, so it is rarely used today. Modern versions of the pigment are mixed with less toxic elements, so colors vary considerably between manufacturers.

Permanence

Naples Yellow has excellent permanence and is unaffected by light.

Toxicity

Naples Yellow is moderately toxic if in contact with skin and highly toxic if inhaled. The toxicity when ingested is unknown. Most Naples Yellow pigments today are a mix of less toxic organic pigments, usually whites, ochres, and reds.

History

Naples Yellow was originally made from the mineral Bindheimite, a natural ore of volcanic origin, as early as the 18th Dynasty (16th and 14th centuries BC). Assyrian artists used this pigment to make a ceramic glaze, and it is said to have been found on the tiles of ancient Babylonia. Its synthetic variety dates from the Renaissance, making it one of the oldest synthetically produced pigments. It was highly valued by the Old Masters, particularly Rubens, who preferred it for skin tones.