Think about how artists today might spend hours searching for the perfect shade in an art supply store, testing different brands and formulas to find exactly what they need. Now imagine discovering that your favorite paint color – one that gave your artwork a uniquely rich, warm tone – came from an unexpected ancient source. This was the reality for many European artists who used Mummy Brown, a pigment that got its distinctive color not from minerals or plants, but from ground-up ancient Egyptian mummies. The story of this unusual paint color reveals a fascinating chapter in art history, showing how the quest for perfect artistic materials connected Renaissance painters to artifacts thousands of years old.
🏺 From Medicine to Masterpieces
According to historical records, the story of Mummy Brown begins not with artists, but with medieval doctors. They believed that ground-up mummies contained powerful healing properties. When supplies of natural bitumen (a brown substance found in mummies) became scarce, apothecaries began grinding up actual mummies. Artists soon discovered this powder’s potential for creating rich, warm browns perfect for painting.
🎨 Why Artists Chose Mummy Brown
Research shows Mummy Brown had unique qualities that other pigments couldn’t match. When mixed with white pitch and myrrh, ground mummy remains created a transparent brown that worked beautifully for shadows and skin tones. The pigment was versatile enough for both oil and watercolor painting, making it highly valuable to artists of the time.
🏭 A Complex Production Process
Making Mummy Brown was no simple task. Manufacturers needed substantial quantities of mummies, which were imported from Egypt through an extensive trade network. The mummies were ground into a fine powder in specialized facilities – often located away from populated areas due to the strong odors produced during processing.
😱 Artists Discover Mummy Brown’s Secret
Many artists used Mummy Brown without knowing its true origins. Pre-Raphaelite artist Edward Burne-Jones made headlines when he discovered the truth. His reaction – ceremonially burying his tube of paint in his garden – marked a turning point in how artists viewed this pigment.
⚰️ The End of an Era
By the late 1800s, two factors led to Mummy Brown’s decline. Growing ethical concerns made artists uncomfortable using human remains for paint. Additionally, the supply of mummies was running low. In 1964, C. Roberson & Co., one of the last manufacturers of authentic Mummy Brown, announced they had used their final mummy.
🎯 Legacy and Modern Reflections
Today’s artists can still find “Mummy Brown” on store shelves, but it’s made with synthetic materials that replicate the original’s unique properties. The story of this unusual pigment raises intriguing questions about art materials and ethics. While we no longer use ancient artifacts for paint, modern art supplies still face ethical challenges, from environmental concerns to sustainable sourcing.
The tale of Mummy Brown reminds us that the history of art is full of unexpected connections. It shows how artists’ endless quest for the perfect materials can lead to extraordinary innovations – and sometimes controversial choices. Next time you’re mixing colors on your palette, remember that every shade has a story, though perhaps none quite as remarkable as Mummy Brown’s.