ATDTDA (7): 200-201 Vermilion

[Keith]

Vermilion gets a couple of mentions in GR and is used on a couple of  
different wallpaper designs in M&D.

It is important in alchemy:

"The vermilion red colour of this flying Lion, like the pure and  
clear scarlet in grain, which is of the true Granadored, demonstrates  
that it is now accomplished in all right and equality. And that she  
is now like a Lion, devouring every pure metallic nature, and  
changing it into her true substance, into true and pure gold, more  
fine than that of the best mines."
http://www.alchemywebsite.com/flam_h9.html

"The method of making vermilion from its constituent elements is  
straight-
forward. Two parts sulfur and one part mercury are placed in an  
airtight vessel
and placed on a moderate heat source. Though the ratio of mercury to  
sulfur in
vermilion and cinnabar is 1:1, the excess sulfur is lost through  
either combustion
with the oxygen inside the vessel, or through conversion into a straw  
yellow
fume." http://tinyurl.com/ys4bze

The making of pigments, developing photographic images, smelting  
metals, and alchemical procedures all have a similar sound to them.

"Secret wisdom---different details,
  but the structure underneath
  is always the same."

            --W. Provenance