makingandknowing - 066r_Women's Shadows (in oil)

As a secondary recipe, I planned to try out 066r which gives a different set of pigments for women's shadows.

<id>p066r_2</id>

<head>Umbres</head>

<ab>Pour femme <m>Aspalte</m> <m>terre dumbre</m> & un peu de <m>laque</m></ab>

</div>

Shadows

<ab>For woman: <m>asphaltum</m>, <m>umber (terre d'ombre, meaning has been researched)</m> and a bit of <m>red lake</m>.</ab>

This is written in a fair hand, in the centre of the page. The heading reads clearly ‘Umber’.

It is the second ‘recipe’ down on a page of recipes to do with painting. The page gives recommendations for painting in oil (066r_4 ‘Colors in oil that are absorbed’) and also distemper (066r_3 ‘Painting in Distemper on wood). Directly above 066r_2 is a recipe directing how many layers of colour to put down. 066r_1 reads as follows: ‘Double coats/ The Flemish and others who make paintings by the dozen apply one coat and finish in the first go. But the colors will soon fade. When they are laid in two times, they do not fade. You must lay then in thinly and scarcely thick in order to blend them well.’

This recipe is of interest in relation to 093v and 065r because it offers a combination of pigments for the ‘Umbres’ ‘Pour femme’. Thus is reflects again the author-practitioner’s distinction between the shadows of men and the shadows of women.

It seems most likely that this combination of pigments were intended to be used for the shadows of women in oil, rather than distemper. I think this partly because the author-practitioner is specific at 065r_1 in a selection of pigments that are ‘perfect’ for the shadows of a woman’s flesh tones in distemper. 065r_1 is just the page before 066r_2 and they are both contained within the section of the manuscript between pages 57 and 67 where recipes for painting techniques cluster. Trying this combination of pigments in oil also offers the opportunity to directly compare my recent experience of handling glue-based paint to create shadows with the very different medium of oil.

I want to combine these pigments and paint them out in oil, to assess what colour they create. It seems as though asphaltum, terre d’ombre, and red lake will create a slightly red tinted, or at least a warm shadow. This would go against the indications on 065r that women’s shadows are ‘greenish’. What would be the effect of combining these pigments?

Protocol for combining these and painting them out in oil:
Take umber (see my notes on umber, extensive), asphalt (see notes, which I need to update with further research) and red lake (madder lake available in studio).
Combine them, and grind them together with some linseed oil.
Paint this out on one of the pre-prepared white boards, sealed with oil.
See what colour this creates.
Compare how it feels to paint in oil with me recent experience of painting with distemper.

In terms of safety, none of the pigments used are hazardous according to MSDS information.
However this advice is given for first aid measures for asphaltum pigment by the supplier (Kremer):
Asphaltum Pigment General information: CAS No. 12002-43-6 EINECS: 310-127-6
First Aid Measures
After inhalation: Supply fresh air. If required give artificial respiration.
After skin contact: Wash with soap and rinse with plenty of water. Remove contaminated clothing.
After eye contact: Rinse open eyes with plenty of water. In case of discomfort seek medical help.
After ingestion: In case of complaints consult a physician. Rinse mouth with plenty of water. No special measures required.
Most Important Symptoms and Effects, both Acute and Delayed Possible symptoms: Cough, nausea.
Special hazard - In case of fire: formation of carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxides (NOx).
Firefighters are advised to wear special protective equipment.
Extinguishing media for the surrounding fire - none are considered unsuitable.
Accidental Release Measures
In case of fire: formation of carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). Wear self-contained respiratory protective device and full protective gear.
Personal Precautions, Protective Equipment and Emergency Procedures
Personal precautions:Wear protective clothing.
Environmental precautions:
Methods and material for containment and cleaning up: Prevent contamination of soil, drains and surface waters. Take up mechanically and collect in suitable containers for disposal.

Handling and Storage
Precautions for Safe Handling
Instructions on safe handling:Avoid formation of dust.
Information on fire and explosion protection:Keep away from sources of ignition - do not smoke. Take measures to prevent electricity static discharge.
Conditions for Safe Storage, including any Incompatibilities
Storage conditions: Store in tightly sealed containers in a cool and well ventilated location.
Requirements for storage areas and containers: No special measures necessary.
Storage compatibility: No special measures required.

In summary - store in well sealed containers. Observe usual best practice in the laboratory for example wearing protective clothing, n smoking, clean up thoroughly.
While there is no significant hazard for either madder lake pigment or umber pigment either, following the above instructions will also maintain safe working practices with those substances.