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

AbstractThe pigments used in 13 paintings by Albrecht Durer 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. Durer 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 Durer 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 Durer's use of azurite and ultramarine. The nomenclature, origin, production and trade in azurite in late mediaeval times are discussed in more detail.