Scientific Studies of Pigments in Chinese Paintings

This is the first in-depth study of colorants in Chinese paintings on silk or paper from the traditional palette to the importation of new pigments in the modern era. With pigment identifications of more than two hundred paintings in the National Museum of Asian Art, this volume provides the reader with a large database of primary source material that can be used in further technical studies and comparative investigations. Adding to previous studies, it pushes forward efforts to develop a chronology for pigment use in East Asian painting.

This book is the first in-depth study of colorants in Chinese paintings on silk or paper and for the first time they have been compiled into a single volume which provides an overview of pigments used in Chinese paintings from the traditional palette to the importation of new pigments in the modern era. With pigment identifications of more than two hundred paintings in the National Museum of Asian Art, this volume provides the reader with a large database of primary source material that can be used in further technical studies and comparative investigations. Adding to previous studies, it pushes forward efforts to develop a chronology for pigment use in East Asian painting.

Introduction Pigments in Chinese Paintings Blythe MCCARTHY

Chapter 1 Pigments in Song and Yuan Paintings from the Freer Gallery of Art Jennifer GIACCAI, Jeffrey JOSEPH, and John WINTER

Chapter 2 Red Insect Dyes in Paintings from the Ming and Qing Dynasties Christina BISULCA and John WINTER

Chapter 3 Blue Colorants in Paintings from the Ming and Qing Dynasties Yae ICHIMIYA and John WINTER

Chapter 4 Colorants and Painting Techniques in Portraits from the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Jennifer GIACCAI, Christina BISULCA, Yae ICHIMIYA, and John WINTER

Chapter 5 The Introduction of Nontraditional Pigments into the Chinese Palette Blythe MCCARTHY and Jennifer GIACCAI

Appendix 1 Analytical Methods

Appendix 2 FORS Identification of Red Anthraquinone Dyes in Chinese Paintings Christina BISULCA

Appendix 3 FORS Identification of Azurite, Indigo, and Prussian Blue in Chinese Paintings Yae ICHIMIYA

Appendix 4 Historical, Modern, and Chemical Pigment Names SHU Yue and all Contributors

Appendix 5 Complete Analysis Results

Index

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Introduction
Pigments in Chinese Paintings
Blythe MCCARTHY

Chapter 1
Pigments in Song and Yuan Paintings from the Freer Gallery of Art
Jennifer GIACCAI, Jeffrey JOSEPH, and John WINTER

Chapter 2
Red Insect Dyes in Paintings from the Ming and Qing Dynasties
Christina BISULCA and John WINTER

Chapter 3
Blue Colorants in Paintings from the Ming and Qing Dynasties
Yae ICHIMIYA and John WINTER

Chapter 4
Colorants and Painting Techniques in Portraits from the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
Jennifer GIACCAI, Christina BISULCA, Yae ICHIMIYA, and John WINTER

Chapter 5
The Introduction of Nontraditional Pigments into the Chinese Palette
Blythe MCCARTHY and Jennifer GIACCAI

Appendix 1
Analytical Methods

Appendix 2
FORS Identification of Red Anthraquinone Dyes in Chinese Paintings
Christina BISULCA

Appendix 3
FORS Identification of Azurite, Indigo, and Prussian Blue in Chinese Paintings
Yae ICHIMIYA

Appendix 4
Historical, Modern, and Chemical Pigment Names
SHU Yue and all Contributors

Appendix 5
Complete Analysis Results

Index

• Edited by Blythe McCarthy
• Edited by Jennifer Giaccai

"""The book covers research carried out on two hundred Chinese Paintings including different typologies such as hanging scrolls and handscrolls, portraits and a selection of albums, all dating from the Song Dynasty (960-1279) to the early twentieth century, created by different artists from various regions. A team of experts from different fields developed a scientific approach to characterize pigments and colorants including information about their origins and insights into the commercial trade between China and the rest of the world. (...) The book is available both in print and online formats, and it will undoubtedly serve as a reference in the field."""
—

"The book covers research carried out on two hundred Chinese Paintings including different typologies such as hanging scrolls and handscrolls, portraits and a selection of albums, all dating from the Song Dynasty (960-1279) to the early twentieth century, created by different artists from various regions. A team of experts from different fields developed a scientific approach to characterize pigments and colorants including information about their origins and insights into the commercial trade between China and the rest of the world. (...) The book is available both in print and online formats, and it will undoubtedly serve as a reference in the field."

— Jani Santos