Book of Hours

Blue pigments

Artists' Materials

Azurite was used in the majority of blue areas on every folio analysed, although the presence or absence of trace amounts of barium, zinc and arsenic suggest the use of different sources or batches of the same pigment. High amounts of barium impurities, in particular, characterise the images attributed to the Painter of Additional 15677. Ultramarine and smalt were identified on one folio each (fols. 15r and 14r respectively). Indigo was also detected in a minority of areas on several folios.

St Peter holds a book and keys, St Paul a sword. The saints’ images exemplify the Master of James IV of Scotland’s remarkable skill as a portraitist. The architectural border was supplied by the Painter of Additional 15677.

Like the other two miniatures painted by the Master of James IV of Scotland, this image is characterised by the exclusive use of lead-tin yellow in yellow areas, the lack of significant impurities in the blue azurite, the presence of indigo in grey areas and of a copper pigment mixed with the clay-rich ochre, and the use of a copper carbonate or sulphate mixed with lead-tin yellow in green areas. The three architectural borders on these folios are the only ones amongst those analysed which contain mosaic gold.