orpiment

noun

or·​pi·​ment ˈȯr-pə-mənt 

: a rare orange to lemon-yellow mineral consisting of a native trisulfide of arsenic

Examples of orpiment in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The researchers initially assumed that this was due to Rembrandt's use of orpiment for yellow hues and realgar for red hues. —Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 25 July 2024

Earlier work using advanced analytical techniques such as Raman spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffraction revealed that Rembrandt used arsenic sulfide pigments (artificial orpiment) in two late paintings: The Jewish Bride (c 1665) and The Man in a Red Cap (c 1665). —Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 25 July 2024

Artists throughout history have used naturally occurring orpiment and realgar, as well as artificial arsenic sulfide pigments, to get yellow, orange, and red hues in their paints. —Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 25 July 2024

Medieval painters used a variety of pigments, some of which were quite toxic (cinnabar, orpiment, and lead white in particular). —Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 3 Dec. 2021

Among the artifacts found in the cave was orpiment, a pigment from eastern Turkey used for decorative purposes, and 63 beads, some of which came from as far away as Baghdad. —Livia Gershon, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Apr. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin auripigmentum, from aurum + pigmentum pigment

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above