Less Known As English Red Prussian Red And Scarlet Ochre True
:
ON THE PRIMARY, RED.
Venetian red, that is, the red of the Venetians, was probably brought
from India, and similar to our modern Indian red. The Venetian red of
the present day, however, is an artificial product, containing no earthy
base, and therefore improperly classed among the ochres. It is prepared
by calcining sulphate of iron, to which a little nitre may be
advantageously added. The result is a peroxide of iron, resembling light
re
, but more powerful, and of a more scarlet hue. It is very permanent,
but being a purely iron pigment, should be cautiously employed with
colours affected by that metal. Though not bright, its tints are clear,
and it mixes and works kindly with cobalt or French blue, affording fine
pearly grays. Heightened by madder lake, it furnishes a glowing red,
very useful in some descriptions of skies; and saddened by black, it
gives low toned reds of good quality for buildings. With white it
produces carnation tints nearly approaching to nature, and much employed
by Titian, Vandyke, and others. Compounded with aureolin, Venetian red
yields a clear orange of considerable transparency.