Note note 4, p. 440 — BOOK X.

[Pg 440][4] Agricola, in the Interpretatio, gives the German equivalent for the Latin aerugo as Spanschgrün—"because it was first brought to Germany from Spain; foreigners call it viride aeris (copper green)." The English "verdigris" is a corruption of vert de grice. Both verdigris and white lead were very ancient products, and they naturally find mention together among the ancient authors. The earliest description of the method of making is from the 3rd Century B.C., by Theophrastus, who says (101-2): "But these are works of art, as is also Ceruse (psimythion) to make which, lead is placed in earthen vessels over sharp vinegar, and after it has acquired some thickness of a kind of rust, which it commonly does in about ten days, they open the vessels and scrape off, as it were, a kind of foulness; they then place the lead over the vinegar again, repeating over and over again the same method of scraping it till it is wholly dissolved; what has been scraped off they then beat to powder and boil for a long time; and what at last subsides to the bottom of the vessel is the white lead.... Also in a manner somewhat resembling this, verdigris (ios) is made, for copper is placed over lees of wine (grape refuse?), and the rust which it acquires by this means is taken off for use. And it is by this means that the rust which appears is produced." (Based on Hill's translation.) Vitruvius (VII, 12), Dioscorides (V, 51), and Pliny (XXXIV, 26 and 54), all describe the method of making somewhat more elaborately.