Understanding Smalt: The History and Chemistry Behind the Pigment

[@mr.k5865]

Friend in the other room: "What are you watching?" Me: " Oh you know, just something about the history and chemistry of smalt." Long silence.

[@chicagofineart9546]

Thank you for this. I had forgotten how lead white mixtures give a nice warm tone. The titanium more neutral/ maybe cooler effect. I don't use lead white in my conservation practice. Would it be OK? I know it's toxic so that's kept me away.

[@RublevColours]

Why would you use lead white for restoring paintings? Is that what you referred to when you wrote "conservation practice?" The decision is not about toxicity but what is reversible and safe for the painting.

[@chicagofineart9546]

@@RublevColours The reversibility factor is not about the pigment but the vehicle. As long as the vehicle is reversible then it's OK to use in conservation. So to answer my own question, I use other toxic pigments, all the cadmiums, so I suppose there's nothing in principle why I couldn't use lead white as well.

[@RublevColours]

@@chicagofineart9546@chicagofineart9546 While it is true that reversibility is about the binder, there is some chemical interaction between the binder and pigment, and this is particularly true with lead white, so the choice should also be made with that in mind.

[@RublevColours]

The reversibility factor is not about the pigment but the vehicle. As long as the vehicle is reversible then it's OK to use in conservation. So to answer my own question, I use other toxic pigments, all the cadmiums, so I suppose there's nothing in principle why I couldn't use lead white as well.

[@chicagofineart9546]

@@RublevColours So, that's absolutely true. And my aversion to any use of white lead pigment was informed by. having to remove overpaint of white lead and let me tell you, it's virtually impossible. There overpaintings were of course not conservation standard but just plain out of the tube white lead, so some kind of oxidized stand oil was doubtless used as the vehicle. When I saw that lovely warm white lead tone I was momentarily seduced to see if I can use it but now the glow is gone and I've talked my way out of it but I'll ask someone higher up on the conservation ladder what they think. Using an acrylic non-crosslink vehicle is standard but why take the chance.

[@keepyourshoesathedoor]

Stupid question, but was it shiny?

[@RublevColours]

Shiny?

[@sohelpervas4821]

first coment

[@RublevColours]

Yes, and the second comment?