Ceruse

Product Details:

50 ml (1.69 fl oz) tube

Rublev Colours Ceruse is a semi-opaque lead white and calcite ground in linseed and walnut oil like that used by Rembrandt and Velázquez. It is used for translucent white effects and soft tints when mixed with other colors.

Ceruse is made with lead white and a medium dry ground calcite (the calcium carbonate mineral) that has a low oil absorption rate like that of lead white to maintain the quick drying character of lead white. Calcite is semi-transparent in oil, giving ceruse its soft white character. In the 16th century, this mixture of lead white and calcite was favored as a mixing white by artists such as Rembrandt, and was known as lootwit in Dutch.

The name ceruse originates with the Latin cerüssa and currently refers to lead white (basic lead carbonate) pigment. In the 17th century, ceruse designated any white pigment made from tin or lead plates. Later, in the 19th century, the name ceruse was used for white pigments that contained lead and chalk.

References
Hans Kurath. Middle English Dictionary, Part C.2. University of Michigan Press, 1959. p. 133.
Ralph Mayer, A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques, Harper and Row Publishers, New York, 1969 (also 1945 printing).
Susan E. Schur, Conservation Terminology: A review of Past and Current Nomenclature of Materials, Technology and Conservation, Spring (p.34-39); Summer (p.35-38); Fall (p.25-36), 1985.
The American Heritage Dictionary or Encarta, via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998.
Random House, Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, Grammercy Book, New York, 1997.

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Rublev Colours Artists' Oil Ceruse
Note: Colors swatches are shown in mass tone, straight from the tube, on the left, and mixed with an equal amount of white on the right. All pictures of color swatches in this web site are only approximations of the actual color of the oil paint. We taken every care to match the color in these pictures on calibrated color monitors to the actual color. However, because of the wide variance in color monitors the results you get may vary.

Color Information
Color:	White
Binder:	Linseed and Walnut Oil
Pigment Information
Common Name:	Lead White
Colour Index:	Pigment White 1 (77597)
Chemical Name:	Basic Lead Carbonate
Chemical Formula:	2PbCO3.Pb(OH)2
Common Name:	Calcite
Colour Index:	Pigment White 18
Chemical Name:	Calcium Carbonate
Chemical Formula:	CaCO3
Properties
Opacity:	Semi-Opaque
Hiding Power:	Moderate
Drying Rate:	Moderate

WARNING: POISONOUS! MAY BE HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED. Contains Basic Lead Carbonate. Avoid ingestion and skin contact. Wear protective clothing and gloves to prevent contact with broken skin. Never use near children or pets. Conforms to ASTM D 4236.

Note: Some separation of pigment and oil may occur in Rublev Colours Artists' Oils and is a natural process when no stabilizers are added to paint to prevent this from occurring.

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