• Deep red ochre pigment, a natural earth pigment with warm, earthy red tones. Highly lightfast and opaque, perfect for oil, watercolor, and tempera painting. Used since prehistoric times for fine art, iconography, and historical restoration. Finely ground for smooth application and rich, natural color. Ideal for artists seeking authentic, archival-quality pigments. Available in various sizes.
  • Red Ochre pigment tested in watercolor using honey, in oil, and mixed with tints of titanium white and lead white. The image showcases its warm, earthy red hue, excellent transparency in watercolor, smooth blending in oil, and subtle tonal shifts with white pigments. A natural iron oxide pigment prized for its historical significance, durability, and versatility in painting. High-quality Red Ochre swatches displayed for comparison.
  • This is an image from the Wall Painting in the Tomb of Pharaoh Siptah 19th Dynasty, ca 1190 BC Siptah was the 7th Pharaoh of the 19th Dynasty and his reign lasted from 1197 to 1191 BC. His grave is located in the Tomb KV47, located in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt, however, his mummy was not found in the Tomb KV 47 but discovered in the tomb of Amenhotep II (KV 35).
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Red Ochre Pigment

Red Ochre Pigment

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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.


Pigment Information

Pigment Type: Natural (Iron Oxide) from minerals (Hematite - Fe₂O₃) (France)

Suitable Mediums: Watercolor, Oil, Tempera, Acrylic, Encaustic, Cold Wax, Casein, Milk, Swedish Flour, Lime / Fresco

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