The sources of pigments used in European painting are found in classical antiquity, 1st.
century B.
to 1st century A.
The over 40 pigments in use were described by Vitruvius, Pliny the Elder and Dioscorides, complemented by 3rd century B.
Theophrastus.
The principles of painting were also described by Pliny, to be picked up by Italian Renaiss.
