Bianco di San Giovanni (500 g)

Product Details:

500 g bag (17.64 oz)

Bianco di San Giovanni is lime white pigment first described in literature by Cennino Cennini. D. V. Thompson says the name comes from the patron saint of Florence.

Pigment Names
Synonyms:	lime white, Armenini's white, Cennini's white, Saint John's white

Origin and History
Cennino Cennini uses the name "Bianco di San Giovanni" to describe the preparation of a white lime pigment in his book Il Libro dell’Arte. He does not explain the name used for this lime white, and it is probable therefore, this important white pigment was in use by artists before Cennini's time. D. V. Thompson says it gets its name after the patron saint of Florence.

Source
Bianco di San Giovanni is a pigment of inorganic, natural mineral origin from limestone (calcium carbonate) deposits. Not to be confused with simple lime white or chalk, Bianco di San Giovanni, as Cennino Cennini reports, is dried lime which is reduced to powder and then immersed in the water for eight days that is changed each day. It is then made into small cakes that are left to dry in the sun. It is then grounded finely.

Bianco di San Giovanni primarily consists of calcium hydroxide, also known as slaked lime, in a chemical compound with calcium carbonate. A traditional name for calcium hydroxide alone is slaked lime, or hydrated lime. The name of the natural mineral is portlandite. A suspension of fine calcium hydroxide particles in water is called "milk of lime." When dissolved in water, the solution is called "lime water." Bianco di San Giovanni is composed of slaked lime, and because it is dried in the sun, it absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and partially converts to calcium carbonate, or lime.

Permanence and Compatibility
Bianco di San Giovanni is considered the white pigment par excellence for fresco painting. It is used also in tempera and grounds while it is not advised in oil and encaustic painting techniques.

Oil Absorption and Grinding
Lime white should be finely ground before using in fresco, casein or egg tempera painting techniques.

Toxicity
Bianco di San Giovanni is not toxic, however, it is alkaline and may irritate the skin and eyes. Care should be used in handling the dry powder pigment to avoid inhaling the dust.


Pigment: Lime White (Bianco di San Giovanni)

Pigment Information
Color:	White
Colour Index:	-
Chemical Name:	Calcium Hydroxide, Calcium Carbonate
Chemical Formula:	Ca(OH)2, CaCO3
ASTM Lightfastness Rating
Acrylic:	Not Tested
Oil:	Not Tested
Watercolor:	Not Tested
Properties
Specific Gravity:	2.24
Density:	2.211 g/cm3
Hardness:	2.5
Refractive Index:	1.65
Solubility:	0.185 g/100 cm3 Ksp = 7.9 x 10 −6

Read cautions about handling pigments

Read the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for this Product

Availability: Usually ships within 24 hours.