Orpiment has been used since at least 3000 BCE in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. The Latin "auripigmentum" means "gold pigment" — it was used as a gold substitute in ancient manuscripts. Arab alchemists called it "zarnikh" and used it extensively. It was also believed to be a step in transmuting base metals to gold — making it central to early alchemy.

Dangerous beauty. Orpiment's intense golden-yellow carries the paradox of the most beautiful and most deadly — like the golden apple of Greek myth. Its historical use despite known toxicity reflects the human willingness to accept risk for aesthetic gain. It represents the dark side of the artist's pursuit of colour.

Central to ancient alchemy as a supposed gold-producing substance. Court painters throughout history worked with orpiment despite its toxicity — a professional hazard accepted as part of the craft. Its incompatibility with lead white (blackens on contact) limited its use and led to careful colour placement in medieval manuscripts. Today it survives only in museum collections and conservation contexts.