Pompeiian red
Composition and Properties of Pompeiian Red
Pompeiian red is actually burnt sienna from Tuscany. The main color giving component of this pigment is iron oxide. It contains around 50% iron oxide and varying amounts of clay and quartz. It is chemically not distinguishable from yellow ochres, the only significant difference being the color. It shows usually darker and warmer tint than the yellow ochres.Iron oxides are stable at high temperatures but not resistant against acids. The pigment is absolutely stable and is compatible with all other pigments and is often used in mixture with several other pigments.
Names
Light Indian redThe name Pompeii is from Oscan pompe “five” (from Proto-Indo-European root *penkwe– “five”), in reference to its five districts From Online Etymology Dictionary
Preparation
The source of Pompeiian red has been the quarries in Tuscany in Italy. It is produced from the raw material by calcinating (heating) it in order to dehydrate the iron oxide.
History of Use
The frescoes in the villas in Pompeii were painted with this pigment, hence the name. Recent research has shown that the part of the red frescoes might have been originally yellow. Their present red color might be due to the chemical changes of yellow ochre caused by hot gasses emitted before the eruption of Vesuvius (1).Examples of use
