Verona Orange Ochre Pigment

Description

Verona Orange Ochre is a natural earth pigment sourced from iron rich clay deposits near Verona, Italy. It is prized for its vibrant, warm orange tone that sits beautifully between red ochre and yellow ochre, offering a glowing, sun drenched color with subtle golden undertones. Carefully selected and finely ground, this pigment produces a natural, earthy brilliance that lends itself to both classical and contemporary work.

In watercolor, Verona Orange Ochre flows with a soft granulation and semi-opaque warmth. In egg tempera and oil, it builds luminous layers ideal for landscape painting, portrait underpainting, and traditional Italian palettes. Its natural iron oxide base ensures excellent lightfastness and stability across all mediums.

History

Verona has been renowned since antiquity for its high quality ochres, used extensively by Roman, Medieval, and Renaissance artists. Verona Orange Ochre was especially prized during the Renaissance for its intense warmth and earthy richness, appearing in frescoes, panel paintings, and illuminated manuscripts.

Artists such as Titian and Veronese, working in the Venetian school, made frequent use of these rich earth tones to create naturalistic flesh, radiant skies, and harmonious backgrounds. The color's vibrancy and durability made it a favorite for fresco work, where longevity and stability were critical. In the pictured artwork 'Stonemason's Yard' by Canaletto, orange ochre is used for the rich terracotta color of the buildings for the warm orange glow.

Today, Verona Orange Ochre remains a beloved pigment for artists seeking a historical, natural orange that carries the legacy of Italian painting tradition into modern practice.

Pigment Information

Pigment Type: Natural earth pigment from iron oxide rich clay
Source: Natural iron oxide rich ochre from Verona
Origin: Italy (natural)
Suitable Mediums: Watercolor, Egg Tempera, Oil, Acrylic, Fresco
Lightfastness: Excellent
Opacity: Semi-opaque to opaque
Other Names: Verona Earth, Italian Orange Ochre, Venetian Orange
Color Index Code: PY43
Image: 'Stonemason's Yard' by Canaletto from the National Gallery

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: Natural earths and minerals contain crystalline silica (quartz). Breathing the dust over long periods can cause serious lung disease (silicosis) and lung cancer. Always use a dust respirator with the dry pigment.

WARNING: This product can expose you to crystalline silica (airborne particles of respirable size), which is known to the State of California to cause cancer. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.