Portraiture has a long and esteemed history that goes back to the highly stylised images created by the Greeks and the Egyptians. The middle ages saw the advent of religious iconography and royal family members as portraiture subjects. However, it was during the Renaissance that many innovations in portraiture evolved. The tradition of the portrait miniature began which remained popular until the advent of the photographic age.
One of the challenges for both modern and ancient portrait artists is the ability to create realistic flesh colours, as skin is composed of a number of tones and varies with different light conditions.
In response to this problem, Matisse has tailored three specific colours that can be used as a basis for recreating light, medium and dark skin tones. Skin Tone Mid, as the name suggests, is an ideal base for recreating medium skin tones. It is composed of the pigments Mid Yellow Azo, Transparent Umber and Yellow Oxide.
Chemical Description: Blend Arylide yellow and iron oxides
Pigment Number: PY74 PR101 PY42
Lightfastness Rating: ASTM I
Pigment Opacity: Opaque
Paint Opacity: Opaque
Series 1
