The Alchemy of Color and Chemical Change in Medieval Manuscripts


Some of the most vivid pigments in medieval manuscripts were manufactured through alchemy, an experimental practice that predates modern chemistry. Today, chemistry deepens our knowledge about paint colors, their identification, and potential continued transformations.

Video from The J. Paul Getty Museum

Cite this page as: The J. Paul Getty Museum, "The Alchemy of Color and Chemical Change in Medieval Manuscripts," in Smarthistory, May 5, 2017, accessed March 19, 2024, https://smarthistory.org/the-alchemy-of-color-and-chemical-change-in-medieval-manuscripts/.