Venetian Red 500g

Venetian Red is a natural earth containing clay tinted by iron oxide that is a warm red but with cold red undertones, giving beautiful pink colors in tints with white and thinned applications. Our Venetian red, like most red ochers, contains at least 20% iron oxide and is low in silica. Venetian red is obtained from iron ore deposits in the Veneto region, Italy.

Origin and History

Venetian Red is an ocher, which have 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 earths containing clay tinted by iron oxide and is composed of a naturally calcined form of hematite, and traces of gypsum (calcium sulfate) or calcite (calcium carbonate). Hematite is a mineral composed of iron oxide minerals (Fe₂O₃) that occur as natural earth. Depending upon the content of iron oxide and other minerals, the color of red ocher varies from deep red to brownish red. Red iron oxide minerals, such as hematite, are found around the world and have been used as pigments since prehistory.

Permanence and Compatibility

Red ochers are among the most permanent colors among 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 medium 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