Naples yellow

American  

noun

1. a poisonous pigment used in painting and enameling, consisting chiefly of lead antimoniate and characterized by its fugitive yellow color, rapid drying rate, and strong film-forming properties.

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Naples yellow British  

noun

1. a yellow pigment, used by artists; lead antimonate

2. a similar pigment consisting of a mixture of zinc oxide with yellow colouring matter

3. the colour of either of these pigments

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Etymology

Origin of Naples yellow

1730–40; so called because originally manufactured in Naples, Italy

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Naples yellow

Of similar stability, it must not be employed with the true Naples yellow or antimoniate of lead, by which it is soon destroyed.

From Field's Chromatography or Treatise on Colours and Pigments as Used by Artists by Salter, Thomas

This is procured by mixing massicot, or Naples yellow, with a small quantity of realgar, and a very little Spanish white.

From Young's Demonstrative Translation of Scientific Secrets by Young, Daniel

The tints of Naples yellow are readily and accurately imitated by admixture of deep cadmium yellow and white.

From Field's Chromatography or Treatise on Colours and Pigments as Used by Artists by Salter, Thomas

Those generally needed are silver white, Naples yellow, yellow ochre, brilliant yellow, vermilion, Prussian blue, raw sienna, ivory black, carmine, yellow lake, vandyke brown.

From Young's Demonstrative Translation of Scientific Secrets by Young, Daniel

We have spoken of Naples yellow in the past tense, because the pigment now sold as such is generally, or always, a compound colour, or manufactured with a zinc instead of a lead base.

From Field's Chromatography or Treatise on Colours and Pigments as Used by Artists by Salter, Thomas