Rublev Colours Prussian Blue Oil Paint

Rublev Colours Prussian Blue is genuine Milori Blue pigment ground in linseed oil without using stearates or other additives that affect the behavior of the pigment in oil. This differentiates Rublev Colours Prussian Blue from all other brands made with additives such as stearates and wax. We do not add fillers, such as chalk or baryte, found in most grades from other brands.

The pale linseed oil used to make this color is well-aged and refined to provide higher levels of reactivity and oxidation than raw oil. The consistency is a smooth, thick, rich color that is ‘short’ and buttery. The choice of Linseed Oil not only contributes to the fast drying rate but also significantly boosts the paint’s resilience, making it a preferred choice for artists seeking long-lasting vibrancy.

Prussian Blue is renowned for its distinctive mixing qualities. Blended with transparent yellows, it shifts towards green, allowing artists to create deep, lush greens. This characteristic can be particularly useful in achieving naturalistic foliage in landscape paintings. Additionally, when mixed with whites, Prussian Blue produces soft greenish tints, offering a range of subtle shades for skin tones or atmospheric effects in skies.

Characteristics of Prussian Blue (Genuine Milori Iron Blue Pigment)

Genuine Milori Iron Blue is a pigment known for its exceptionally deep, intense dark blue hue. Its richness in color is so profound that it can appear almost black at first glance. Here are some of the standout features:

Quick-Drying Properties: This pigment dries rapidly, making it a favorite among artists who require fast-working mediums.

Natural Tinting Ability: Unlike Phthalo Blue, Milori Iron Blue offers a more natural tinting process. This makes it versatile and adaptive in various mixing scenarios.

Color Mixing Tendencies:

• When mixed with transparent yellows, it develops deep and lush green shades.
• When combined with whites, it creates soft, greenish undertones.

Overall, Genuine Milori Iron Blue is prized for its adaptability and the unique depth it brings to artistic palettes.

Origin and History

Often called the first modern or artificial pigment, Prussian blue was introduced in the early nineteenth century. A German color maker or dyer in Berlin named Diesbach accidentally discovered the black-blue of Prussian blue in 1704, thinking that his pigment would be red since it was made from cattle blood. Prussian blue was the earliest of the modern synthetic colors. After its discovery in 1704, Diesbach spread the manufacturing process of his pigment to his pupil, de Pierre, who in turn began manufacturing Prussian blue in Paris. Simon Eikenlenberg, a Dutch painter, wrote about Prussian blue in his Notes on Paint and Painting in 1722. By 1724, the manufacturing process of the pigment had spread to England and appeared in an artists’ manual by Woodard. In The Handmaid to the Artists, Dossie quoted the preparation of Prussian blue in its entirety in 1764.

Also known as Berlin blue, Paris blue, Antwerp blue, and Chinese blue, Prussian blue is the earliest modern synthetic color. (Gettens, 149–151) It is a complex chemical compound, ferric ferrocyanide (Fe₄(Fe[CN]₆)₃), first mentioned in 1710, but its preparation was kept secret until 1724. A London manufacturer named Wilkenson began production, and gradually, more and more color firms followed suit. By 1750, Prussian blue must have been well-known all over Europe. (Gettens, 151) Long before that, however, Prussian blue was in use in the United States.

Permanence and Lightfastness

In lightfastness tests, Prussian Blue fades in various amounts when mixed with most white pigments. It appears to fade most aggressively in mixtures with lead white, whereas it fades much less with titanium white and zinc white (together). The best use of Prussian Blue is to apply it in glazes without compromising its depth and vibrancy.

When considering the use of Prussian Blue, artists should be mindful of its interaction with various pigments:

• Lead White: Expect significant fading, requiring cautious application.
• Titanium White: Significant fading is to be expected.
• Zinc White: Slightly less fading than Lead White and Titanium White, but subject to cracking.
• Titanium and Zinc White: Offers more stability, ensuring lasting vibrancy.

By understanding these mixing properties, artists can harness the full potential of Prussian Blue and balance its boldness with the desired subtlety in their work.

Composition and Permanence

For a detailed explanation of the terms in the table above, please visit Composition and Permanence.

Notes

Some separation of pigment and oil may occur in Rublev Colours Artist Oils. This is a natural process when no wax or stabilizers are added to the paint to prevent it.

All color swatch images on this website are only 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 because of the wide variance in color monitors.

Color Swatch Note: The color swatch was created with a thick application (left side) of color and a tint (right side) made with equal parts of color and titanium white and applied on acrylic primed cotton canvas.

Drawdown Note: The image of the “drawdown” contains a pre-mixed paint film of 6 mils (0.006 inches) thickness 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 titanium white mixed in a 1:2 ratio on the right. The bottom area of the drawdowns is scraped to show undertones.