The series of Sunflowers paintings (7 in total) painted in Arles in 1888 - 1889 were made with a class of
pigments called
chrome yellows, which are based on chromium and lead and were invented in the late 19th century.
This volume, the first in a series of four, describes the history, characteristics, and scientific analysis of 10
pigments (Indian
yellow; cobalt
yellow; natural and synthetic barium sulfate; cadmium
yellows, oranges, and reds; red lead and minium; green earth; zinc white;
chrome yellow and other chromate
pigments; lead antimonate
yellow; and cochineal and kermes carmine) that have played a major role in the history of painting.