The relationship between Albrecht Dürer's palette and fifteenth/sixteenth-century pharmacy price lists: the use of azurite and ultramarine

• Published in: Studies in conservation Vol. 43; no. sup1; pp. 101 - 105
• Main Authors: Burmester, Andreas, Krekel, Christoph
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Routledge 01-01-1998
• ISSN: 0039-3630; 2047-0584
• DOI: 10.1179/sic.1998.43.Supplement-1.101

The pigments used in 13 paintings by Albrecht Dürer have been identified: azurite, ultramarine, verdigris, lead-tin yellow, brown and, occasionally, yellow ochres, cinnabar, red lead, red lakes, basic lead white as well as plant and bone black. Dürer mentions only four of these in his diaries and letters, and, except for ultramarine, there are no indications of where he obtained his pigments. Mediaeval documentary sources indicate that artists' pigments were available from pharmacies. Examination of fifteenth/sixteenth-century pharmacy price lists shows that all the pigments Dürer used were available. The composition of the palette depended to a certain degree on the cost of the pigments. This is exemplified by the blues, and we focus on Dürer's use of azurite and ultramarine. The nomenclature, origin, production and trade in azurite in late mediaeval times are discussed in more detail.