Venetian Red Pigment

Venetian Red is a natural earth containing clay tinted by iron oxide that is a warm red with cold red undertones, giving beautiful pink colors in tints with white and thinned applications. Like many Italian red ochers, our Venetian red contains at least 20% iron oxide and calcium dihydrate (gypsum). Venetian red is obtained from iron ore deposits near Verona in the Veneto region, Italy.

Origin and History

Venetian Red is an ocher that has been used as a pigment since prehistoric times and is perhaps the most widely used pigment for artists' paints.

Source

Venetian red is a red ocher obtained in the vicinity of Venice. Red ochers are natural earth pigments containing clay tinted by iron oxide. They are composed of a naturally calcined form of hematite and traces of gypsum (calcium sulfate) and calcite (calcium carbonate). Hematite is a mineral composed of iron oxide minerals (Fe₂O₃) that occur as natural earth. Red ocher varies from deep red to brownish red depending upon the content of iron oxide and other minerals. Red iron oxide minerals, such as hematite, are found worldwide and have been used as pigments since prehistory.

Permanence and Compatibility

Red ochers are among the most permanent colors on the artist's palette. It is compatible with all other pigments and can be used with good results in all mediums.

Oil Absorption and Grinding

Red ochers absorb a small to moderate amount of oil, which may slow the drying of oil paint, but because iron oxide is a drier in oil, it dries moderately fast and forms an excellent film.

Toxicity

Red ochers are not considered toxic, but care should be used in handling the dry powder pigment to avoid inhaling the dust.

Pigment: Rublev Colours Venetian Red