• Lamp Black pigment, a fine deep black powder made from soot collected from burning oil, shown in a glass dish.
  • Lamp Black Pigment
  • Rubens initially painted the family group at the core of the composition on a vertical rectangular central piece of canvas, to which he—perhaps while still in England— added strips on all four sides in preparation for the almost square final composition. When Rubens returned to Antwerp in April 1630, he took the still-unfinished family portrait with him. The painting, which remained in his possession, was probably completed by Jacob Jordaens after Rubens's death in 1640.
  • Lamp Black Pigment
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Lamp Black Pigment

Lamp Black Pigment

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Description

Lamp Black is a handmade single pigment produced through the historical process of collecting the fine soot from oil burned in a smothered, low oxygen flame. This deep black pigment has been used for centuries, prized for its ultra fine particle size, strong tinting strength, and dense, opaque coverage. Traditionally gathered from oil lamps, it is known for its cool undertones and rich, velvety texture.

Lamp Black has exceptional lightfastness, making it highly durable for both classical and contemporary artwork. It blends seamlessly with other pigments, offering deep, harmonious tones in painting. Its opacity and strong covering power make it excellent for solid darks, layering, and shading effects in oil, watercolor, and tempera applications. Compared to Mars Black, it has a softer, more natural appearance, making it ideal for delicate tonal work and historical painting techniques.

History

Carbon based black pigments have been used for thousands of years, making them one of the oldest known colorants in human history.

During antiquity, early civilizations in Egypt, Mesopotamia, and China used soot based pigments for writing, decoration, and mural painting. The ancient Egyptians formulated carbon black inks for hieroglyphic writing on papyrus, while the Greeks and Romans used it in frescoes, pottery, and cosmetics.

In the Middle Ages and Renaissance, soot based black pigments were widely employed in illuminated manuscripts, frescoes, and early oil painting. Artists such as Leonardo da Vinci and Rembrandt used these blacks for underpainting and subtle shading in portraiture and landscape work. The pigment's soft, rich quality made it ideal for creating atmospheric effects and shadows. In the pictured artwork 'Deborah Kip, Wife of Sir Balthasar Gerbier, and Her Children' by Rubens, the soft black velvet of the clothing and the shadows incorporate lamp black for their deep shades.

By the 18th and 19th centuries, industrial production of carbon black became more refined, and lamp black came to be manufactured on a large scale. These blacks became widely used in fine art, printing, and industrial applications, maintaining their importance as essential colors in artistic palettes.

Today, Lamp Black continues to be an important pigment for artists, conservators, and calligraphers who appreciate its historical authenticity and rich, natural depth.

Pigment Information

Pigment Type: Natural (Carbon based) from lamp soot
Source: Collected from the incomplete combustion of pure oil (lamp soot)
Suitable Mediums: Watercolor, Oil, Tempera, Acrylic, Ink
Lightfastness: Excellent
Opacity: Opaque with slight granulation
Other Names: Lampblack, Carbon Black, Soot Black
Color Index Code: PBk6
Image: 'Deborah Kip, Wife of Sir Balthasar Gerbier, and Her Children' by Rubens in the National Gallery of Art