That passion led to his collection of materials related to the making and restoration of art.
He also brought with him nuggets of artist pigments discovered in the excavation of Pompeii.
Today, it has over 2,500 samples and is renowned in the art community.
The use of tiny metallic flakes suspended in a binding medium can give artworks a shining finish.
The red-orange realgar is derived from arsenic sulfide minerals.
Kermes is also the source of the word crimson.
Sources:Harvard Art Museum/Harvard Gazette
