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Concept
Verdigris
Summary
Verdigris ˈv3rdɪɡriː(s) is a common name for any of a variety of poisonous copper salts of acetic acid, which range in colour from green to a bluish-green depending on their chemical composition. Verdigris has been used for artistic purposes from antiquity until the late 20th century, including in easel painting, polychromatic sculptures, and illumination of maps. Verdigris was a common ingredient in colouring agents and pharmaceutical preparations. A leading production site in Montpellier, France was run by women for centuries, providing an important source of female employment. Until the 19th century, verdigris was the most vibrant green pigment available and was frequently used in paintings. However, due to its instability, its popularity declined as other green pigments became readily available. The instability of its appearance stems from its hydration level and basicity, which changes as the pigment interacts with other materials over time.
The name verdigris comes from the Middle English vertegrez, from the Old French verte grez. According to one view, it comes from vert d'aigre, "green [made by action] of vinegar". The modern French writing of this word is vert-de-gris ("green of grey"), sounding like the older name verdet gris ("grey greenish"), itself a deformation of verte grez. It was used as a pigment in paintings and other art objects (as green color), mostly imported from Greece, and hence it is more usually given another etymology as vert-de-Grèce ("green of Greece").
The industry was long dominated by the women of Montpelier, France, which had the ideal climate to produce pulverised verdigris. It was a profitable business, and 80% of production was sold abroad through certified female brokers. At the height of its popularity, in the 1710s, the government had to enforce inspection systems to address growing fraudulent practices. By the 20th century, the production of verdigris had moved away from Montpellier and more cost-efficient methods of producing green pigments sent the industry into decline after WWI.
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