Blue pigments
Artists' Materials
Azurite was used in the majority of blue areas on every folio analysed, although the presence or absence of trace amounts of barium, zinc and arsenic suggest the use of different sources or batches of the same pigment. High amounts of barium impurities, in particular, characterise the images attributed to the Painter of Additional 15677. Ultramarine and smalt were identified on one folio each (fols. 15r and 14r respectively). Indigo was also detected in a minority of areas on several folios.
St Catherine (suffrage to St Catherine)
St Catherine is depicted with a book (evoking her learning and wisdom), the wheel on which she was tortured, and the sword with which she was beheaded. The saint’s image was painted by the Master of James IV of Scotland, but the architectural border was provided by the Painter of Additional 15677.