Literary notes about Verdigris (AI summary)
Verdigris appears in literature both as a technical ingredient and as a vivid descriptor of color and decay. It is frequently mentioned in detailed recipes and remedies, where its powdered form and chemical properties are essential—from herbal preparations and metal treatments [1, 2] to mixtures for painting that yield various shades of green [3, 4]. At other times, it becomes a metaphor for aging or corrosion, evoking images of weathered bronze or tarnished surfaces [5, 6], and even characterizing human features in a wry turn of phrase [7]. Thus, its dual role as both a substance in alchemy and a poetic symbol underscores its rich texture in the literary imagination [8, 9].
- Take of Verdigris finely powdered, five parts, Honey fourteen parts, sharp Vinegar seven parts, boil them to a just thickness, and a reddish colour.
— from The Complete Herbal by Nicholas Culpeper - In the same way they put in plates of copper and make verdigris, which is called "aeruca." 2.
— from The Ten Books on Architecture by Vitruvius Pollio - Papyrus, Mandarin, Telegraphic, Good Form, Casual, mauve, orange, scarlet, verdigris green.
— from All along the River: A Novel by M. E. (Mary Elizabeth) Braddon - Then pounce and outline your drawing finely and over it lay a priming of 30 parts of verdigris with one of verdigris with two of yellow.
— from The Notebooks of Leonardo Da Vinci — Volume 1 by da Vinci Leonardo - The pedestal, it appeared to me, was of bronze, and was thick with verdigris.
— from The Time Machine by H. G. Wells - A candle was burning in a candlestick covered with verdigris, but that was not what really lighted the chamber.
— from Les Misérables by Victor Hugo - This was stretching a point, but it brought a pale smile to his verdigris countenance (this is unworthy of the worst punster).
— from The Sunny Side of Diplomatic Life, 1875-1912 by L. de (Lillie de) Hegermann-Lindencrone - The English "verdigris" is a corruption of vert de grice .
— from De Re Metallica, Translated from the First Latin Edition of 1556 by Georg Agricola - Near this unexpected human relic were found stone hatchets and carved flints, colored and clothed by time in one uniform brilliant tint of verdigris.
— from A Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne
