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Mummy Brown: The art world’s most morbid medium

Informed by a sample of Mummy Brown from the Winsor & Newton archive, we uncover the pigment’s bizarre and unsettling history, from its origins to its eventual fall from grace.

Winsor & Newton Archive: Items of Intrigue - Portable paint, from pig bladders to paint tubes

Did you know that artists once used pig bladders to carry paint? In our latest Items of Intrigue session from the archives, we look at the evolution of portable paints,...

Winsor & Newton Archive: Items of Intrigue – The colour once more valuable than gold

Ultramarine pigment was historically once more valuable than gold. We take a look at its journey from rare gemstone, lapis lazuli, to the advancement made by chemists to create an...

The permanence of artists’ paints in the 19th century

Artists' paints must be permanent, reliable, and modifiable. Historically, many pigments, particularly in watercolour, faded over time. This article examines the reasons behind this and how modern innovations have enhanced...

Winsor & Newton Archive: Items of Intrigue – Ostwald’s Groundbreaking Innovation

Discover the legacy of Friedrich Wilhelm Ostwald's colour system, preserved in the Winsor & Newton archives. Learn how this Nobel-winning chemist's theories influenced artists and movements like De Stijl and...

Water-bottle box set and miniature watercolour palettes

Five Winsor & Newton watercolour innovations throughout history

Explore Winsor & Newton's legacy in watercolour innovation, from pioneering moist watercolour cakes in 1835 to crafting the revered Series 7 brushes for Queen Victoria. Our innovations continue to shape...

The Winsor & Newton Paint Tube 1840-1911

The history of the metal paint tube

Discover Winsor & Newton’s pivotal role in the development of the metal paint tube— a revolutionary innovation that transformed the history of art.

Palettes of the masters: JMW Turner

Discover how JMW Turner revelled in experimenting with pigments, from gamboge to ultramarine. Explore how Turner's daring experiments with pigments shaped his iconic landscapes and seascapes – and why not all...