>
>Who knows if this pigment is
>any good for fresco. We
>are the only ones who
>care, and will be the
>ones who have to test
>it. And ten years from
>now, the old pigments might
>be unavailable - all because
>somebody thinks artists eat paint,
>and have to be protected.
>
I am slightly conservative with modern pigments when used for fresco. I have a couple of pounds of beautiful green that has been given to me years ago by a friend (she was one of the WPA artists). This green is still in the original tin can that says:
Fine Fresco Pigments packaged in 1937. Guess what? Thanks to my habit - I always add a little of lime to my mixes - I did not spoil a fresco - the damn thing turned lemon yellow before my eyes! I think this happened because during the 60 years in the can something happened with chemical structure of the pigment (it must be synthetic). I've heard that some chemical reactions go into "slow mode" so this green worked well when it was tested in 1930th but failed after 60 years.
Since the "disappearing of the pigments is going on we probably should stock enough for 50 years or so.