This stunning necklace is another example of the similar theme as previously posted. This piece is exceptional in its detail and inlay of gems. The lapis scarab is again holding the sun shape. Here you can see the two baboonsflanking the scarab. They are made of turquoise and glass paste with silver. The baboons helped the rising sun come … [Read more...] about Baboons and Netherworlds
pigments
Moon Over Kom Ombo
This temple of Kom Ombo is set dramatically on a hill overlooking a bend in the Nile. This Greco-Roman style temple is Egypt's only double temple where everything is doubled and perfectly symmetrical along a central axis. The twin entrances, twin courts, and twin colonnades are all dedicated to both Sobek, the crocodile god and … [Read more...] about Moon Over Kom Ombo
Monks Seeing Red
Very early manuscripts document both the manufacture and use of vermilion. Some called this indispensable color the prince of reds which was more brilliant than the natural cinnabar. Theophilus (Roger of Helmarshausen)the Benedictine Monk, described the alchemical synthesis in his technical handbook De diversis artibus (On Divers Arts … [Read more...] about Monks Seeing Red
Red Haired Men and Other Curiosities on Pigments
A lively and strange excerpt from Bright Earth by Philip Ball, gives us a recipe for Spanish Gold using pure magical thinking. From the writings of Theophilus: "There is also a gold named Spanish gold, which is compounded from red copper, basilisk powder, human blood, and vinegar. The heathen, whose skill in this art is … [Read more...] about Red Haired Men and Other Curiosities on Pigments
Burnt Sienna Differences
I have three jars of burnt sienna pigment purchased over the past years. They are also shown here in the pure form on the left with linseed added and on the right with lead white added. The Kremer pigment at the top is the lightest and has a distinct hot feel to it. The Sinopia English variety is darker but still very warm. The one at the bottom … [Read more...] about Burnt Sienna Differences
Raw Sienna Review
A reader wrote last week confused about the differences between the shades of raw sienna and burnt sienna. As you can see by the image here, not only are the shades different from pigment to pigment but also from supplier to supplier. The five samples shown here are the ones I use on my palette. On the left is the pigment in its pure form with … [Read more...] about Raw Sienna Review