Flemish White Oil Paint
Flemish White is an opaque white pigment mixture based primarily on lead sulfate ground in linseed oil. This warm white is opaque, but not as much as titanium white, so it won't kill colors in mixtures with it.
Flemish White has a creamy, long consistency that makes it excellent in pure highlights composed primarily of lead sulfate.
In his Field’s Chromatography of 1869, Thomas Salter identified Flemish white as lead sulfate (page 67). In Practical Treatise on Painting in Oil-Colours of 1795, “white precipitate of lead,” which was sulfate of lead, was sold under the name “Flemish white.” Before the nineteenth century, Flemish white was lead white made in Flanders. After that time, it was precipitated lead sulfate, which is derived from basic lead sulfate. We recreated Flemish White of the nineteenth century, a mixture of pigments including lead sulfate and lead white (basic lead carbonate). and magnesia (magnesium carbonate). Instead of magnesium carbonate, we substituted talc (magnesium silicate) because it is much less water-sensitive than magnesia.
Please note that in the video, the Colour Index of the pigments in Flemish White is identified as PW 3 / PW 1, but it should be PW 2 / PW 1.
Composition and Permanence
| Flemish White | |
| Color: | White |
| Pigment: | Mixed pigment (See “Pigment Information” below) |
| Binder: | Linseed Oil |
| Additive(s): | None |
| Pigment 1 Information | |
| Pigment: | Lead Sulfate |
| Pigment Classification: | Synthetic inorganic |
| Colour Index: | Pigment White 2 (77633) |
| Chemical Name: | Tribasic lead sulfate |
| Chemical Formula: | 3PbO·PbSO4 |
| CAS No. | 12202-17-4 |
| Pigment 2 Information | |
| Pigment: | Lead White |
| Pigment Classification: | Synthetic inorganic |
| Colour Index: | Pigment White 1 (77597) |
| Chemical Name: | Basic lead carbonate |
| Chemical Formula: | 2PbCO3.Pb(OH)2 |
| CAS No. | 1319-46-6 |
| Pigment 3 Information | |
| Pigment: | Talc |
| Pigment Classification: | Natural inorganic |
| Colour Index: | Pigment White 26 |
| Chemical Name: | Magnesium silicate |
| Chemical Formula: | Mg2[Si4O10][OH]2 |
| CAS No. | 14807-96-6 |
| Properties | |
| Code: | 811 |
| Series: | 5 |
| Opacity: | Opaque |
| Tinting Strength: | Medium |
| Drying Rate: | Medium |
| ASTM Lightfastness: | Not listed |
| Permanence: | A - Permanent |
| Safety Information: | DANGER! CONTAINS LEAD. HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED. Avoid ingestion and skin contact. Wear protective clothing and gloves to prevent skin contact. Never use near children or pets. Conforms to ASTM D 4236. DANGER |
For a detailed explanation of the terms in the table above, please visit the Composition and Permanence page.
Notes
Some separation of pigment and oil may occur in Rublev Colours Artist Oils, and it is a natural process when no wax or stabilizers are added to the paint to prevent it.
All color swatches on this website are approximations of the actual color of the oil paint. We have carefully matched the color in these pictures on calibrated color monitors to the actual color. However, your results may vary due to the wide variance among color monitors.
Color Swatch Note: The color swatch was created with a thick application of color (left side) and a tint (right side) made with equal parts of color and titanium white, applied to acrylic-primed cotton canvas.
Drawdown Note: The image of the “drawdown” shows a premixed paint film 6 mils (0.006 inches) thick, applied to a standard test card to examine color consistency, opacity, and other qualities. The drawdowns show the full-color strength (mass tone) on the left and mixed in a 1:2 ratio with titanium white on the right. The bottom area of the drawdowns is scraped to show undertones.
| SKU | 820-811 |
|---|---|
| Brand | Rublev Colours |
| Vendor | Natural Pigments |
| Processing Time | Usually ships the next business day. |
| Color | White |
| Pigment Type | Inorganic, Natural, Synthetic |
| Pigment Family / Chemistry | White Pigments |
| Pigment Code | PW1, PW2, PW26 |
| Particle Size | Very Fine |
| Drying Rate | Medium |
| Transparency/Opacity | Opaque |
| Lightfastness | Not Listed |
| Chemical Prohibition | Yes |
DANGER! CONTAINS LEAD. HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED. Avoid ingestion and skin contact. Wear protective clothing and gloves to prevent contact with skin. Never use near children or pets. Read the MSDS for all cautionary statements. Conforms to ASTM D 4236.
DANGER
CONTAINS LEAD / CONTIENT DU PLOMB
DO NOT APPLY TO SURFACES ACCESSIBLE TO CHILDREN OR PREGNANT WOMEN.
NE PAS APPLIQUER SUR UNE SURFACE ACCESSIBLE AUX ENFANTS OU AUX FEMMES ENCEINTES.
Must be used exclusively as material for the purposes of arts, crafts or hobbies, not for use by children. Utiliser uniquement aux fins suivantes comme matériaux pour les besoins d’art, d’artisanat ou passe-temps, pas pour une utilisation par les enfants.
Hazard Pictograms
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 |
 |
| GHS07: Exclamation Mark |
GHS08-2: Health Hazard |
GHS09: Environment |
Signal Word: Danger
Hazard Designation
H302 Harmful if swallowed.
H332 Harmful if inhaled.
H360 May damage fertility or the unborn child.
H373 May cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure.
H410 Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects.
Safety Designation
P260 Do not breathe dust/fume/gas/mist/vapors/spray.
P261 Avoid breathing dust/ fume/ gas/ mist/ vapors/ spray.
P280 Wear protective gloves/ clothing/ eye/ face protection.
P281 Use personal protective equipment as required.
P405 Store locked up.
P501 Dispose of contents/ container according to regional, national and international regulations.
WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including lead, which is known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
