Rublev Ercolano Red is a fresh, deep orange-red ochre made from a natural red earth pigment sourced from quarries in Northern Italy. Its colour comes from red iron oxide (hematite, Fe2O3), the principal colouring agent in red earths. Unlike hydrated yellow ochres, red earths contain no bound water, which contributes to their characteristic depth, warmth, and traditional earth colour stability.
Ground in linseed oil with no additives, Ercolano Red is semi-transparent with low tinting strength, making it ideal for glazing, underpainting, and building warm passages gradually without overpowering other colours. It excels in terracotta and brick notes, sunlit architecture, warm landscape earths, and portrait work where you want a natural orange-red that stays earthy rather than synthetic. Mixed with titanium white, it produces soft coral, salmon, and warm clay tints that are excellent for skin tones and warm highlights.
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Pigment: Ercolano Red, natural inorganic PR 102 (77491)
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Binder: Linseed oil
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Additives: None
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Opacity: Semi-transparent
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Tinting strength: Low
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Drying rate: Medium
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ASTM lightfastness: I
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Permanence: A (permanent)
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Code: 503
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Series: 2
Note: Because Rublev Artist Oils contain no waxes or stabilisers, slight natural separation of pigment and oil may occur. Knead the tube to remix before painting.