A discussion is made of ancient pigments used in prehistoric times, the Roman period, Mediaeval and Renaissance through to the wide range offered by modern chemically synthesised alternatives. In particular, the confusion caused by the multiple Roman descriptors which were differentiated by original pigment quality and geological sourcing and taken on into mediaeval scriptoria and thence into the Renaissance is highlighted. The use of dyestuffs, plant extracts and minerals, sometimes in combination, and their incorporation into artists’ palettes. Fugitive pigments and their degradation.