Venetian White Oil Paint
Rublev Colours Venetian White is a semi-opaque white ground in walnut oil that provides a stiff white, excellent for mixing with colors.
Venetian White Oil Color is an authentic reproduction of the nineteenth-century white oil paint known as Venetian white. According to Salter’s edition of George Field’s Chromatography (1869), Venetian white was a commercial name in the nineteenth century for a white pigment mixture composed of equal parts of lead white (basic lead carbonate) and ‘heavy spar’ (that is, the barium sulfate mineral barite or baryte). The names Venice white and Venice ceruse were also used for this mixture, and pure lead white.
We’ve replicated this color for artists today without the fillers and stabilizers (e.g., stearates, waxes, etc.) typical of modern whites. The white mineral barite (Refractive Index or R.I. 1.65) has a lower refractive index than lead white (R. I. 2.01), making it less opaque and well-suited for mixing with other colors. Use it to make pale tints of colors without overpowering them or as a foundation for other colors.
Reference
George Field. Chromatography; Or, A Treatise on Colours and Pigments, edited by T. W. Salter. London, 1869.
To compare all Lead Whites, please see the article “Six Lead White Artist Oils to Choose.”
Composition and Permanence
| Venetian White | |
| Color: | Venetian White |
| Pigment: | Mixed pigment (See “Pigment Information” below) |
| Binder: | Walnut oil |
| Additive(s): | None |
| Pigment 1 Information | |
| Pigment: | Lead White |
| Pigment Classification: | Synthetic inorganic |
| Colour Index: | Pigment White 1 (77597) |
| Chemical Name: | Basic lead carbonate or Lead(II) carbonate basic |
| Chemical Formula: | 2PbCO3.Pb(OH)2 |
| CAS No. | 1319-46-6 |
| Pigment 2 Information | |
| Pigment: | Barite (Baryte) |
| Pigment Classification: | Natural inorganic |
| Colour Index: | Pigment White 22 |
| Chemical Name: | Barium sulfate |
| Chemical Formula: | BaSO4 |
| CAS No. | 7727-43-7 13462-86-7 |
| Properties | |
| Code: | 808 |
| Series: | 3 |
| Opacity: | Semi-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 color at full strength (mass tone) on the left and mixed with titanium white at a 1:2 ratio on the right. The bottom area of the drawdowns is scraped to show undertones.
| SKU | 820-808 |
|---|---|
| Brand | Rublev Colours |
| Vendor | Natural Pigments |
| Processing Time | Usually ships the next business day. |
| Color | White |
| Pigment Type | Inorganic, Natural, Synthetic |
| Pigment Family / Chemistry | Whites (Titanium / Zinc / Lead, etc.) |
| Pigment Code | PW1, PW22 |
| Particle Size | Very Fine |
| Drying Rate | Medium |
| Transparency/Opacity | Semi-Transparent |
| Lightfastness | ASTM I |
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.
