Poison Paint

In his book Il Libro dell’Arte, Cennino Cennini (1370 – 1440) cautions painters against working with the arsenic-based yellow pigment, realgar. “There is no keeping company with it . . . . look out for yourself.”

 

http://www.noteaccess.com/
Texts/Cennini/2.htm
James Whorton The Arsenic Century, 8