PY43

The oil colour Italian Yellow Earth based on the pigment PY43 (Natural Yellow Iron Oxide / Yellow Ochre) is a classic, inorganic natural earth colour that has been used in painting since antiquity. While the synthetic counterpart (PY42) is often very uniform and harsh yellow, the natural PY43 from Italy retains an unrivalled visual softness and depth due to the naturally occurring minerals in the earth (e.g. goethite and traces of clay).

• Deep, golden ochre : Italian yellow earth delivers a warm, muted yellow color with a rich, amber and slightly earthy undertone.
• Soft and creamy shades : When mixed with white (e.g. zinc or titanium white), the color does not create chalky or synthetic pastel yellow tones, but rather natural, creamy straw and sand-colored shades.
• Semi-transparent to transparent : Natural earth is traditionally more transparent than synthetic iron oxide, making it an excellent glazing color that can add a glowing warmth without muddying the underlying layers.
• Absolute maximum lightfastness : As a pure mineral soil, PY43 does not change at all over time. It is completely permanent (ASTM Category I) and resists both strong sunlight and chemical attack.
• Moderate to low tinting strength : The pigment's "tinting strength" is relatively mild. This means it does not take over an entire color mixture, giving the artist great control when creating subtle nuances.
• Indispensable for portraits and skin tones : Due to its transparency and gentle undertone, Italian yellow earth is historically one of the key colors for building realistic and vibrant skin tones (e.g. in the classic underpaintings of the Renaissance).
• Natural landscapes : The color is ideal for softening and "breaking" too intense, synthetic green shades (such as phthalo green) to give forests and fields a natural glow.