The Egyptians developed the art of paint‐making considerably during the period circa 3000‐600 BC. They developed a wider color range of pigments which included the blues, lapis lazuli (a sodium silicatesodium sulphide mixed crystal), and azurite (chemically similar to malachite). Red and yellow ochres (iron oxide), yellow orpiment (arsenic trisulphide), malachite green (basic copper carbonate), lamp black, and white pigment gypsum (calcium sulphate) all came into use during this period.