Un ignorato pigmento bianco del Medioevo europeo

Medieval literature transmits important information regarding art materials and techniques, even in the most widespread, well-known, and investigated works. Some of this knowledge, almost inexplicably, has never been given enough attention by historians of art techniques. They have often limited their work to list those pigments and materials that prove the antiquity and authenticity of a specific artifact rather than considering its specific production context and tradition. Moreover, the most authoritative, widespread, and well-known entries in Latin encyclopedias, actually contribute to a better understanding of this context. In this paper, we focus on an ignored white pigment mentioned by medieval literary sources almost a millennium before what is commonly believed to be its first attestation (an English XVth century manuscript). The aim is also to contribute to the recognition of a long development of use and experimentation that preceded the introduction of certain pigments, and sometimes, their industrial production. This contribution will hopefully prevent over-simplifying applications of this realm of knowledge, which remains still imperfect.