Litharge Massicot Lead Pigment

Description

Litharge is a heavy, opaque yellow to reddish pigment made from lead(II) oxide (PbO). Depending on the method of preparation, it can appear as a soft lemon yellow or a deeper orange red tone. It has been used since antiquity not only as a pigment but also as a key ingredient in glassmaking, ceramics, and in historical oil painting as a drier (accelerating drying times of oils).

As a pigment, litharge is opaque with strong covering power but limited tinting strength. In oil painting it was more often used in mediums than as a primary color, since it could affect drying and gloss.

History

Litharge has been known since ancient times, produced as a byproduct of refining silver and lead ores. The Greeks and Romans referred to it in alchemical and medical texts, using it both in pigments and cosmetics.

During the Middle Ages and Renaissance, litharge was employed in stained glass, ceramic glazes, and in making lead based oil painting mediums. Painters would grind it into oils to create "litharge varnish," a quick drying, resinous medium. In manuscript and panel painting, it occasionally appears as a yellow or reddish pigment but was more often hidden within mediums rather than used directly. In the pictured artwork "The Bedroom " by Van Gogh, Litharge is used for the warm orange of the bedstand.

Litharge gradually fell out of common artistic use as safer yellows (like Naples Yellow and later cadmiums) became available. Today it is primarily of interest to conservators, pigment historians, and artisans reproducing historic painting methods.

Pigment Information

Pigment Type: Synthetic Inorganic (Lead Oxide)
Chemical Composition: PbO (Lead(II) Oxide)
Suitable Mediums: Oil (historically as a drier/medium), Tempera, Glass, Ceramics
Lightfastness: Excellent
Opacity: Opaque
Other Names: Lead Monoxide, Lithargyrum, Massicot (yellow form, uncalcined), Red Lead precursor
Color Index Code: PY46
Image: "The Bedroom " by Van Gogh from the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam

Health and Safety

• For art use only. Not for cosmetic, food or children's use.
• Keep out of reach of children and pets. Do not eat, drink or smoke while working.
• Avoid creating or breathing dust. Work in a ventilated area and wear a NIOSH approved dust respirator (P100 or better) when handling dry pigment.
• Wear gloves and eye protection. Wash hands and work surfaces after use, and never rinse pigment into drains.
• Do not spray apply, sand or burn.
• If swallowed or if you feel unwell, contact a poison control center (U.S. 1-800-222-1222) or a doctor.
• Safety Data Sheet available on request.

Caution: Contains lead. Harmful if swallowed or inhaled. May cause cancer. May damage fertility or the unborn child and may harm breastfed children. Causes damage to the nervous system, blood and kidneys through prolonged or repeated exposure. Not for use by children or by anyone pregnant, planning a pregnancy or nursing. Never sand, spray, burn or heat dry paint. Wash hands, nails and work surfaces thoroughly after use and keep away from food. Very toxic to aquatic life; never rinse into drains. Wear a P100 respirator (full face, or half face with goggles) when handling the dry pigment; N95 and P95 masks are not sufficient.

WARNING: This product can expose you to lead, which is known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.