Timeline for Green Pigments

Pigment timelines || Blue | Yellow | Red | Green | Brown | Orange

  • 2500 BCE

    Malachite

    Malachite is a basic copper carbonate that was one of the few green pigments available for painters up to the 19th century.
  • 300 BCE

    Verdigris

    Verdigris is not a unique chemical substance but is a collective name for various copper acetates. Their colour varies from blue to green.
  • 250 BCE

    Green Earth

    Green earth is a natural inorganic pigment of a rather dull colour prepared from the minerals glauconite or celadonite.
  • 1814

    Emerald Green

    Emerald green is copper (II)-acetoarsenite: 3 Cu(AsO2)2·Cu(CH3COO)2. Its colour is bright and beautiful but it is exceedingly poisonous.
  • 1838

    Viridian

    Viridian is hydrated chromium oxide Cr2O3 • 2 H2O. This form of chromium oxide is of vivid colour with a bluish tint.
  • 1930

    Cobalt Titanate Green

    Cobalt titanate green is a mixed metal oxide of cobalt and titanium with the formula of Co2TiO4. It is not to be confused with cobalt green.
  • 1938

    Phthalo Green

    Phthalo green is a bluish-green pigment with outstanding lightfastness and stability. It was used by Francis Bacon and Jackson Pollock.