Archaeology Lecture Series Presents Hilary Becker

Associate Professor Hilary Becker (Binghamton University) will speak on "Pigments, painters, and Pliny the Elder: Exploring the world of Roman color."

While no known manual for Roman painters survives from antiquity, the study of ancient painted surfaces, paired with ancient texts, and experimental archaeology, makes it possible to reanimate the choices that a painter had to navigate when using pigments. Some artists knew how to discriminate between pigments at the market and to make sure that they could tell the difference between a premium Egyptian blue and a less expensive version. It also was good business for patrons and painters to be able to tell an adulterated or fraudulent pigment from an authentic product. Both painters and their patrons also needed to think through how pigments such as cinnabar, malachite, and indigo would be used to make sure that pigments were not painted in a way that would cause their discoloration. 

Refreshments will be available at noon outside Old Library 224.