Roman Black Pigment
Roman Black is a natural brownish-black earth that is a dense, opaque, heavy color that is absolutely permanent. Writers like De Mayerne mention the black earths of Rome and Venice. Roman black earth (Terra nera di Roma) is described by Salter as producing ‘the same effect as charcoal black’. It is comparatively warm to neutral in undertone, wets easily, and is non-greasy compared to carbon blacks. It is a valuable pigment when these qualities are required.
| Pigment Names | |
| Common Names: | English: black oxide French: oxyde noir German: Oxid Schwarzes Italian: ossido nero Japanese: 酸化物黒 Portuguese: óxido preto Spanish: óxido negro |
| Alternate Names: | English: black earth, black ocher, black ochre, black iron oxide, iron oxide French: fer oxydé, naturelle noir Indien Italian: terra nera di Roma Mars black is the name given to the artificial substitute of natural black oxide. |
Origin and History
Black oxide is a recent development in modern pigments and was not often encountered in artists’ palettes before the 19th century. However, black earths that are mixtures of iron oxide, manganese oxide, and carbon have been in use since Antiquity.
Source
Natural black oxide is usually from an iron ore called magnetite. Magnetite, also known as lodestone, is a ferrous ferric oxide that is heavy, black, and opaque. Theoretically, black iron oxide contains slightly more iron metal than red oxide but not nearly as much as yellow oxide. The native mineral may contain varying amounts of manganese, clay, and silica.
Permanence and Compatibility
Natural black oxide is an absolutely permanent color for all uses on 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
Natural black oxide absorbs a moderately low amount of oil. The oil absorption ratio is 20–25 parts by weight of linseed oil to 100 parts by weight of pigment. If the measurement were grams, it would require 20–25 grams (by weight) of linseed oil to grind 100 grams (by weight) of pigment to form a stiff paste. It makes an average drying oil paint and forms a hard, somewhat flexible film.
Toxicity
Natural black oxide is not considered toxic, but care should be used in handling the dry powder pigment to avoid inhaling the dust.
Rublev Colours Pigment: Roman Black
| Pigment Information | |
| Color: | Black |
| Colour Index: | Pigment Black 11 (77499) |
| Chemical Name: | Iron oxide and manganese oxides from natural sources |
| Chemical Formula: | Fe3O4 MnO2 |
| ASTM Lightfastness Rating | |
| Acrylic: | I |
| Oil: | I |
| Watercolor: | I |
| Properties | |
| Density: | 5.15 |
| Hardness: | 5.5–6.0 |
| Refractive Index: | n=2.42 |
| SKU | 481-13 |
|---|---|
| Brand | Rublev Colours |
| Vendor | Rublev Colours |
| Processing Time | Orders ship on Tuesdays and Thursdays. |
| Color | Black |
| Pigment Type | Inorganic, Earth, Natural |
Health & Safety: There are no acute or known chronic health hazards with the anticipated use of this product (most chemicals are not thoroughly tested for chronic toxicity). Protect yourself against potentially unknown chronic hazards of this and other chemical products by avoiding ingestion, excessive skin contact, and inhaling spraying mists, sanding dust, and concentrated vapors from heating. Contact us for further information or consult the SDS for more information. Conforms to ASTM D-4236.
