Rublev Colours Prussian Blue Oil Paint

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SKU
820-111

Prussian Blue is renowned for its rich hue and exceptional quality, achieved through its meticulous milling process. This pigment is expertly milled with the finest alkali-refined linseed oil, resulting in a naturally drying and durable paint film. Known for enhancing both the drying and durability properties, this combination ensures a superior finish.


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

Prussian Blue
Color: Blue
Binder: Linseed oil
Additive(s): None
Pigment Information
Pigment: Prussian Blue
Pigment Classification: Synthetic inorganic
Colour Index: Pigment Blue 27 (77520)
Chemical Name: Ferric ferrocyanide
Chemical Formula: Fe4[Fe(CN)6]3·xH2O
CAS No. 12240-15-2
Properties
Code: 111
Series: 2
Opacity: Transparent
Tinting Strength: High
Drying Rate: Fast
ASTM Lightfastness: I
Permanence: The lightfastness of this color is under review.
Safety Information: Based on a toxicological review, the anticipated use of this product does not pose acute or known chronic health hazards. However, you should always protect yourself against potentially unknown chronic hazards of this and other chemical products by avoiding ingestion, excessive skin contact, and inhaling spraying mists, sanding dust, and concentrated vapors. Contact us for further information or consult the MSDS.


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.

Color Names
Common Names: English: Prussian blue
French: Bleu de Prusse
German: Preussischblau
Italian: Blu di Prussia
Portuguese: azul da Prússia
Russian: Прусская Голубая
Spanish: Azul de Prussia
Alternate Names:

English: Berlin blue, Paris blue, Antwerp blue, Chinese blue, Milori blue

More Information
SKU820-111
BrandRublev Colours
VendorNatural Pigments
Processing TimeUsually ships the next business day.
ColorBlue
Pigment TypeInorganic, Historical, Synthetic

Health & Safety: There are no acute or known chronic health hazards with the anticipated use of this product (most chemicals are not thoroughly tested for chronic toxicity). Protect yourself against potentially unknown chronic hazards of this and other chemical products by avoiding ingestion, excessive skin contact, and inhaling spraying mists, sanding dust, and concentrated vapors from heating. Contact us for further information or consult the SDS for more information. Conforms to ASTM D-4236.

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Prussian Blue Oil Paint
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