Orpiment

Current name

Information from the Getty AAT

orpiment (pigment)

A soft, yellow mineral composed of arsenic trisulfide that occurs naturally in volcanic fumaroles, hydrothermal veins, hot springs, and as a decomposition product of realgar. It changes to a red crystalline form at 170 C. Orpiment was used from ancient times as a pigment in painting, in manuscript illumination, and polychrome sculpture, having good tinting strength, but not permanent and toxic. King's yellow is the synthetic counterpart.

General
Filemaker ID: 
GLO4217
Other names: 
Auripigment
Historical names