Atramentum

Description

An archaic Roman term for Carbon black used in paint and ink (Mayer 1969). The term was also used by the Romans to refer to an unkown glaze or varnish that some scholars now think may have been asphalt mixed with oil or resin (Mayer 1969).

Synonyms and Related Terms

atramento (It.); negro de fumo (Port.)

Resources and Citations

• Ralph Mayer, A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques, Harper and Row Publishers, New York, 1969 (also 1945 printing)

• Art and Architecture Thesaurus Online, http://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabulary/aat/, J. Paul Getty Trust, Los Angeles, 2000