Rublev Colours Antica Green Earth is a genuine Italian terre verte made from the natural mineral glauconite (PG23). Sourced from basaltic tufa deposits near the ancient city of Prun in northern Italy, close to Verona, this historic pigment is known locally as terra di Prun. It produces a greyish, warm green with softly complex undertones that can shift toward olive, blue green, or black green depending on natural mineral content.

Antica Green Earth is valued for traditional painting methods, especially verdaccio and flesh undertone work, where a quiet green underlayer helps neutralise warm reds and pinks. It is also excellent for atmospheric landscapes, cooling shadows, and mixing natural greys and muted greens without overpowering surrounding colours. As a true earth pigment, it is highly stable, broadly compatible with other pigments, and performs well across oil, tempera, watercolour, fresco, acrylic dispersions, and toned grounds.

Key features

• Genuine glauconite green earth from northern Italy, terra di Prun origin

• Colour Index PG23 (77009), classic terre verte pigment

• Warm grey green with subtle natural undertones for mixing and underpainting

• Permanent and lightfast (ASTM I) in acrylic, oil, and watercolour systems

• Suitable for oil paint making, watercolour, tempera, fresco, and gesso grounds

Safety note: Considered non-toxic, but avoid inhaling dry pigment dust. Use a mask and good ventilation when handling powder.