Glass-based pigments in painting: smalt blue and lead–tin yellow type II

Abstract Glass-based pigments have an important role in the panorama of artistic production due to fact that their manufacturing processes involve a combination different skills and understanding, they disciplines ranging from glass technology metallurgy, glazed ceramic stone imitation vitreous mosaic tesserae painting materials. The main goal this manuscript is present critical review literature relating blue smalt “yellow glass” (lead–tin yellow type II) pigments: presenting historical background, analytical protocol, alteration decay finally tracing issues. Several case studies analyzed by authors will be presented. Particular attention was devoted correlation between micro-textural features affecting studied pigments, though widespread heterogeneity materials variability techniques which were used as well effect relevant (micro-)environmental conditions dictate cautious approach. These are presented context information about chain production, selection raw provenance studies.