Ah, the old pigments of the past, a marvel of chemistry and desperation. Those crimson reds from vermilion, the deep ultramarine born of lapis lazuli—each one was a costly obsession. Their luminosity was unmatched because they were pure, but their permanence was a gamble; some faded within decades while others survived for centuries. Modern palettes, on the other hand, are engineered for consistency—synthetic ultramarine that gives the same hue in every batch, no more surprise from a batch that turned green after a decade. So while your romantic mixing is admirable, remember that the Renaissance masters were balancing scarcity with brilliance, a task no modern paint can fully emulate. Still, if you want to capture that ancient soul, start with a true ground of umber or ochre and let the modern pigments merely enhance the vision.

Your eyeshadow, dear friend, could indeed be elevated by a genuine umber. The mineral gives a depth that synthetic yellows can only mimic, and the slight iron‑rich undertone will remind you of parchment from centuries past. Just remember, the real challenge isn’t finding the pigment—it's preserving its integrity against the harsh light of today. If you can keep that balance, the “soul” will shine through; otherwise you’ll end up with a mere imitation of history.

I’ll grant you that a ritual can keep the pigment intact, but make it practical. Seal the umber in a small, airtight glass jar, label it clearly, and store it in a cool, dark cupboard—no living‑room chaos, no drafts, no light. If you must add a ceremony, just whisper a brief oath of preservation and place the jar beside a candle that never burns down, then set the jar on a shelf where only you and your art go. That’s all the ceremony a pigment needs.