PR101, PBk11, PY42

The oil color Caput Mortuum (Latin for "dead head"), made from the pigment mixture PR101 , PBk11 and PY42 , is a deep, somber and incredibly rich historical color.

Where the color was historically associated with alchemists and mummy powder, this modern version is based on a chemically pure and completely stable combination of synthetic iron oxides. The result is a sophisticated, dark purple-brown or violet-brown earth color with great color strength.

The three synthetic iron oxides are carefully balanced to create the color's characteristic "bloodless" and violet hue:

• PR101 (Synthetic Red Iron Oxide) : Forms the reddish-brown base and gives the color its body and durability.
• PBk11 (Synthetic Black Iron Oxide / Magnetite) : Darkens the mixture significantly and takes it into a deep, almost blackish undertone.
• PY42 (Synthetic Yellow Iron Oxide) : Add in a small amount to break up the color a bit so it retains its earthy warmth and doesn't become too cold or muddy.
• Deep violet-brown : Straight from the tube, Caput Mortuum appears as a very dark, dry and muted brown with a distinct, cool hint of purple or plum.
• Melancholic expression : It has a very specific, historical and serious character, which has traditionally been used to paint shadows in heavy velvet, robes and dramatic backgrounds.
• High coverage (Opaque) : The combination of PR101 and PBk11 makes this oil paint extremely opaque and covers other layers of paint with great ease.
• Dense and smooth : The pigments have a very fine and uniform particle size, resulting in a smooth, spreadable and homogeneous paste that is easy to control on the palette.
• "Cool" Earth Tones with White : When mixed with white, Caput Mortuum reveals its true magic. Instead of turning pink (like regular red ochre), it creates a range of beautiful, muted, subdued violet-gray and rose-purple hues.
• Natural shadows : It is great for creating deep, atmospheric shadows in landscapes or the deepest shadow areas of the face (especially around the eyes and under the chin), as it darkens without appearing "dead" like pure black.
• Light fastness : Excellent (Category I). As it consists entirely of iron oxides, it is absolutely permanent and will not change over time, regardless of exposure to light.
• Drying time : Fast. The iron oxides (and especially the black PBk11) accelerate the drying process of the linoleum. Caput Mortuum will therefore often be among the first colors on the canvas to be dry to the touch.