• Vine Black pigment, a deep, natural black made from charred grapevines, offering excellent transparency and smooth blending. Highly lightfast and ideal for oil, watercolor, and tempera painting. Used historically for fine art, ink making, and shading techniques, it provides rich depth and soft gradations. Finely ground for professional-quality applications. Available in various sizes.
  • Vine Black Pigment
  • Vine Black Pigment
  • According to the apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus, Christ was disrobed before the crucifixion. El Greco depicted this rare subject in a famous altarpiece for the sacristy in Toledo Cathedral. The composition of the Munich version is largely the same, albeit in a smaller format. However, some details, the colouration and the proportions of the figures are different. It is considered an authentic replica that was also worked on by the artist’s workshop.
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Vine Black Pigment

Vine Black Pigment

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Description

Vine Black is a handmade natural single pigment black, traditionally produced by charring grapevine shoots or other woody plant material in a low oxygen environment. This process creates a soft, deep black pigment primarily composed of carbon, with subtle warm undertones and a slightly bluish tint in mixtures. Vine Black is known for its fine particle size, excellent dispersion, and ease of blending, making it a favored choice for artists across different mediums.

Vine Black produces a soft, velvety black with slightly cooler undertones than Bone Black. It has moderate tinting strength, allowing for subtle gradations and shading without overpowering mixtures. Unlike synthetic blacks, Vine Black offers a more natural, organic feel, making it ideal for traditional techniques, glazing, and washes. It is highly stable, has excellent lightfastness, and disperses smoothly in oil, watercolor, and tempera.

History

Vine Black has been used as a pigment since antiquity, with origins tracing back to the classical civilizations of Greece and Rome. Ancient artisans used charred grapevine twigs to create black inks, frescoes, and wall paintings. It was a common pigment in medieval manuscripts and was widely used in fresco painting during the Renaissance. Artists favored Vine Black for its delicate texture and ability to produce soft, atmospheric effects in drawings and paintings.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, Vine Black became a staple for painters seeking deep, natural blacks with smooth blending capabilities. It was often used in underpainting and glazing techniques due to its transparency and ability to create rich tonal variations. In the 19th century, it remained a preferred black for academic studies, as it provided a range of grays without the harshness of modern synthetic blacks. In the artwork pictured 'The Disrobing of Christ' by El Greco, vine black is used throughout to create the deep shadows present in the artwork and for the harrowing feeling behind Christ.

Today, Vine Black is still prized by fine artists, conservators, and historical painters for its organic origin and natural blending properties. Though largely replaced by industrial carbon blacks in mass production, it remains a sought after pigment for those who value traditional materials and the timeless character of natural blacks.

Pigment Information

Pigment Type: Natural, carbon based pigment from charred grapevine twigs (Carbon)
Source: Charred grapevine twigs (vegetal carbon)
Origin: France
Suitable Mediums: Watercolor, Oil, Tempera, Acrylic, Ink
Lightfastness: Excellent (Highly stable and resistant to fading)
Opacity: Semi-opaque
Other Names: Vine Charcoal Black, Carbon Black
Color Index Code: PBk8
Image: 'The Disrobing of Christ' by El Greco from the Alte Pinakothek Munich

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: Fine carbon dust may irritate eyes and airways. Avoid breathing dust.

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