Rublev Colours Vicenza Earth is a unique buff-to-tan natural kaolin (clay) pigment from Vicenza, Italy, valued for its subtle warmth, low opacity, and soft “clouding” effect in paint films. Classified as Pigment White 19 (PW19), this hydrated alumina silicate is ideal for artists who want to warm cool passages without overpowering colour and create atmospheric depth in portraits, landscapes, and classical glazing workflows.

Used historically in medieval Italian porcelain and linked to the development of soft-paste porcelain, Vicenza Earth remains a refined studio pigment today. In painting, it works beautifully as a glazing modifier—adding a delicate haze that can soften edges, reduce harsh contrast, and suggest distance. It’s also a practical studio tool: mix it with heavier pigments to help reduce separation and create a slightly shorter, more controlled consistency in oil paint.

Vicenza Earth is compatible with all pigments and performs across oil, tempera, fresco, watercolour, and grounds. It mixes readily with oil or water to form a smooth paste, making it a versatile choice for painters who make their own paints or adjust handling qualities on the palette.

Key features

• Pigment: PW19 (Hydrated alumina silicate / natural kaolin clay)

• Colour: warm off-white / buff / tan

• Opacity: low (softening, atmospheric effect)

• Best for: glazing warmth, soft focus, distance/space effects, reducing separation, shortening paint

• Handling: dry pigment—avoid inhaling dust; use a mask and gloves when mixing