Show american vermilion american vermilion is a different color from english french and chinese vermilions lions which are made of sulphur and mercury those colors are found naturally in large quantities as the mineral cinnabar the natural cinnabar is not brilliant enough in color however most of the english vermilion is made by chemical process american vermilion is a basic chromate of lead and is used mostly in the commercial arts while english french and chinese vermilions lions are used in the fine artland are more expensive |