History and art Lake pigment

titian used glazes of red lake create vivid crimson of robes in vendramin family venerating relic of true cross , completed 1550-60 (detail).

lake pigments have long history in decoration , arts. have been produced thousands of years , traded on long distances.

the red lakes particularly important in history of art; because translucent, used in layers of glazes on more opaque red (sometimes mineral-based pigment vermilion, or red lake mixed lead white or verilion) create deep, rich red color. used titian , other venetian artists of 16th century depict fine draperies , fabrics.

indigo lake produced leaves of woad, , known in ancient egypt. in late middle ages, fashion woad textile dye led overplanting , soil exhaustion in many parts of europe. after trade routes opened east, indigo imported india substitute woad, , cultivation of woad became uneconomical in europe. today, dark blue dye known indigo once produced woad , indigofera tinctoria largely of synthetic origin. dye , pigment both fugitive.
rose madder lake, root of madder plant, known alizarin crimson in synthetic form. since rose madder fugitive when exposed light, use has been largely superseded, in synthetic form, quinacridone pigments.
carmine lake produced cochineal insect, native central , south america. called crimson lake. when spanish conquered aztec empire (1518-1521), encountered aztec warriors garbed in unknown crimson color. cochineal became second valuable export new world, after silver, , spanish zealously guarded secret of production centuries. carminic acid, organic compound gives carmine color, synthesized in 1991.

indigo , rose madder produced more cheaply synthetic sources, although use of natural products persists, among artisans. food , cosmetics industries have shown renewed interest in cochineal source of natural red dye.