True Gamboge

Description

True Gamboge is a natural botanical resin pigment extracted from the sap of Garcinia hanburyi trees, traditionally harvested in Southeast Asia. Carefully collected, purified, and ground into pigment, True Gamboge produces a brilliant golden yellow to warm yellow tone that is both transparent and richly saturated.

In watercolor, True Gamboge flows with exceptional clarity, offering glowing, transparent washes with a warm, organic luminosity. In egg tempera and oil, it creates radiant glazes ideal for highlights, floral work, sacred art, and traditional palettes. Its unmistakable golden hue lends a depth and warmth rarely found in synthetic yellows, blending beautifully with mineral blues, natural greens, and rich earth tones.

History

True Gamboge has been used for centuries across Asia, particularly in Buddhist art, manuscript illumination, and lacquer work. Its name derives from "Cambodia," reflecting its origins in the forests of Indochina. In Europe, gamboge became highly prized during the 17th and 18th centuries as a watercolor pigment, where its brilliant transparency made it a favorite for botanical painting and layered glazes. In the pictured artwork "Saskia With a Flower" by Rembrandt, True Gamboge is used in the belt and jewelry of Saskia to create the rich gold tones throughout.

Artists often used True Gamboge in combination with indigo to create rich greens before the advent of modern chemical pigments. It was also valued for its role in producing brilliant sunset skies, luminous gold fabrics, and glowing highlights in illuminated manuscripts and paintings.

Because it is a natural resin pigment, True Gamboge is best suited for works that are protected from prolonged exposure to direct sunlight or harsh environmental conditions to preserve its vividness over time.

Pigment Information

Pigment Type: Natural botanical resin pigment from Garcinia hanburyi

Suitable Mediums: Watercolor, Egg Tempera, Oil (glazing), Acrylic

Lightfastness: Moderate (recommended for protected works)

Opacity: Transparent

Other Names: True Gamboge, Cambodia Gamboge, Botanical Gamboge

Color Index Code: NY24 (natural yellow)

Image: "Saskia With a Flower" by Rembrandt from State Art Gallery Dresden