Red Ochre

Description

Red Ochre is a natural, handmade single earth pigment produced by heating Light Yellow Ochre, extracted from Vaucluse, France. This natural pigment undergoes a traditional calcination process, transforming yellow ochre into a deeper, richer red hue with increased iron oxide content.

One of the finest ochres available, Red Ochre is prized for its warm, earthy red tone, high covering power, and exceptional stability. It has been widely used for centuries due to its durability, opacity, and ability to create soft, harmonious blends in artwork. This pigment is ideal for fresco painting, oil painting, watercolor, and traditional tempera techniques.

Unlike synthetic reds, Red Ochre offers a unique organic warmth, making it a favorite among artists seeking natural, historically authentic reds for their palettes.

History

Ochre pigments have been used by humans for over 100,000 years, with red ochre playing a significant role in prehistoric cave paintings, including those in Lascaux, France. The process of heating yellow ochre to create red ochre dates back to ancient civilizations such as the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans, who used it in murals, cosmetics, and pottery. In the pictured artwork from the Wall Painting in the Tomb of Pharaoh Siptah ca 1190 BC, red ochre is used to create rich red contrast to the Egyptian blue used.

During the Renaissance, red ochre became a staple pigment in European painting, often used for underpainting, portraiture, and landscape works. The deposits in Vaucluse, particularly in the Roussillon region, became famous for producing some of the world’s finest ochres, supplying master painters with rich, warm tones for centuries.

By the 19th and 20th centuries, Red Ochre remained a key pigment in both fine art and industrial applications, from artist paints to architectural finishes. Today, it continues to be valued for its historical significance, stability, and natural beauty.

Health and Safety

Precautions:
Keep out of reach of children and pets.
Do not consume.
Not for cosmetic or food usage.
Do not spray apply. 
For further health information contact a poison control center.
Use care when handling dry pigments and avoid dust formation.
Use particular caution with fibrous, fine, or toxic pigments. 
Do not eat, drink, or smoke near dry pigments. Avoid breathing in pigment dust and use a NIOSH-certified dust respirator with sufficient rating for dry pigment. 
Wash hands immediately after use or handling. 
If dust is likely, always wear protective clothing to keep out of eyes, lungs, off skin, and out of any contact as well as keep area ventilated.
This product may contain chemicals known by the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or reproductive harm.
Warnings and bottle information are abbreviated.

Pigment Information

Pigment Type: Natural (Iron Oxide) from minerals (Hematite - Fe₂O₃) (France)  
Suitable Mediums: Watercolor, Oil, Tempera, Acrylic  
Lightfastness: Best  
Opacity: Opaque  
Other Names: Burnt Ochre, Red Earth, French Red Ochre  
Color Index Code: PR102
Image: 'Wall Painting' by Unknown from the Tomb of Pharaoh Siptah