Yellow Ochre

Natural inorganic pigment

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Composition and Properties of Yellow Ochre

The main color giving component of natural yellow ochre (ocher, yellow earth) is limonite which is not a single mineral but a mixture of several iron-containing minerals among them goethite, akageneite, lepidocrocite, and jarosite, goethite (iron oxide hydroxide α-FeOOH) being the main component.

Iron oxides are stable at high temperatures but not resistant against acids. The pigment is absolutely stable as is documented by the cave paintings still in excellent condition after many thousands of years. It is compatible with all other pigments and is often used in mixture with other paints.

References

(1) Cornell, R. M., & Schwertmann, U. The Iron Oxides: Structure, Properties, Reactions, Occurrences and Uses. Wiley 2006.

(2)  Helwig, K. Iron Oxide Pigments, in Berrie, B.H. Editor, Artists’ Pigments, A Handbook of Their History and Characteristics, Volume 4, pp. 38-109.

(3) Mady Elias, C. Chartier, G. Prévot, C. Vignaud, H. Garay, The Colour of Ochres Explained by Their Composition
February 2006, Materials Science and Engineering B 127(1):70-80. DOI: 10.1016/j.mseb.2005.09.061

(4) Heidi Gustafson, Early Futures Ochre Archive, Website.

yellow-ochre-crystals

Pigment

yellow-ochre-painted-swatch

Painted swatch

Names of Yellow Ochre

Alternative names

Yellow earth

Color Index

PY 43, CI 77492

Word origin

From Old French ocre (c.1300) and directly from Late Latin ocra, from Latin ochra, from Greek ochra, from ochros “pale yellow,” of unknown origin.

From Online Etymology Dictionary

Spain Flag

Gelber Ocker

German

Spain Flag

Ocre jaune

French

Spain Flag

Ocra gialla

Italian

Spain Flag

Ocre amarillo

Spanish

Preparation of Yellow Ochre

The natural mineral is washed in order to separate it from sand and other impurities. The resulting sludge is dried and the pigment is ground and sieved.

 

red-ochre-rustrel-france Deposit of natural red and yellow ochres in Rustrel, Colorado Provençal, France

Yellow ochres can also be prepared artificially by a variety of procedures. There are two main types of production methods: precipitation of iron oxides and/or hydroxides from solutions of iron salts is one possibility (2,3), thermal decomposition of iron compounds the other.

Video: 'Preparation of Yellow Ochre' by The Alchemical Arts

Video: 'French Yellow Ochre' by Vasari Classic Artists Oil Colors

References

(1) Helwig, K. Iron Oxide Pigments, in Artists’ Pigments, A Handbook of Their History and Characteristics, Volume 4, Berrie, B.H., Ed., National Gallery of Art Washington, 2007, pp 38 – 109.

(2) Lutz,B. und Mahal,M. Die Darstellung einiger Eisenoxidpigmente. Unterrichtsvorschlag fuer die Sekundarstufe I. , Naturw.im Unterricht -Physik/Chemie 11 (1986), 32 – 34

(3) Stahl,M., Flintjer, B. und Bader, H.-J. Eisenoxid-Pigmente – Versuche für anwendungsorientierte Unterrichtskonzeption in der Sek. I , CHEMKON 4 (1997), 181-186

History of Use 

Yellow ochre has been in use since prehistoric times until the present day. The following graph gives the frequency of its use in the paintings of the Schack Collection in the Bavarian State Art Collections in Munich (1).

yellow_ochre_history_of_use

 

Examples of use

Raphael, The Sistine Madonna, 1512

RAPHAEL_-_Sistine_Madonna_1513-14 

References

(1) David Hradil, Tomas Grygar, Janka Hradilova, Petr Bezdicka, Clay and iron oxide pigments in the history of painting, Applied Clay Science 22 (2003) 223–236

(2) Kühn, H., Die Pigmente in den Gemälden der Schack-Galerie, in: Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen (Ed.) Schack-Galerie (Gemäldekataloge Bd. II), München 1969.

Identification

Fiber optics reflectance spectra (FORS)
Infrared Spectrum

1. IR Spectrum of yellow ochre in the ATR-FT-IR spectra of different pure inorganic pigments, University of Tartu, Estonia.

2. IR Spectrum of yellow ochre in linseed oil by S. Vahur, Database of ATR-IR spectra of materials related to paints and coatings, University of Tartu, Estonia.

IR-spectrum of yellow_ochre_in_linseed_oil

 

References

(1) Kate Helwig, The characterisation of iron earth pigments using infrared spectroscopy, irug.org Postprints p. 83-92.

Raman Spectrum

raman spectrum of yellow ochre

Spectrum by Ian M. Bell, Robin J.H. Clark and Peter J. Gibbs, Raman Spectroscopic Library
University College of London

References

(1) Froment, F., Tournié, A., & Colomban, P. Raman identification of natural red to yellow pigments: ochre and iron-containing ores. Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, 39(5), (2008) 560–568. doi:10.1002/jrs.1858

X-Ray Fluorescence Spektrum (XRF)

XRF Spectrum in the Free XRF Spectroscopy Database of Pigments Checker, CHSOS website.

References

XRF Spectrum in the Free XRF Spectroscopy Database of Pigments Checker, CHSOS website.

microphotograph-yellow-ochre

Microphotograph

image © Volker Emrath

Further Reading

References

Helwig, K. Iron Oxide Pigments, in Artists’ Pigments, A Handbook of Their History and Characteristics, Volume 4, Berrie, B.H., Ed., National Gallery of Art Washington, 2007, pp 38 – 109.

Cornell, R. M., & Schwertmann, U. The Iron Oxides: Structure, Properties, Reactions, Occurrences and Uses. Wiley 2006.

Earth pigments tour website. It contains a colour map of many earth pigments.

Hradila, David; Grygara, Tomáš; Hradilová, Janka; Bezdičkaa, Petr. Clay and iron oxide pigments in the history of painting. Applied Clay Science 22, 2003, p. 230.

Ochres and coloured earths, Website of the French association to promote ochres and coloured earths.

Heidi Gustafson, Early Futures Ochre Archive, Website.

S. Muntwyler, J. Lipscher, HP. Schneider, Das Farbenbuch, 2nd. Ed., 2023, alataverlag Elsau, pp. 24-25.

Examples of Use in Painting

Lorenzo Lotto, Transfiguration of Christ

Lorenzo Lotto, Transfiguration of Christ

Antonello da Messina, San Cassiano Altarpiece

Antonello da Messina, San Cassiano Altarpiece

Antonello de Saliba, Virgin with the Child

Antonello de Saliba, Virgin with the Child

Rembrandt, The Night Watch

Rembrandt, The Night Watch

Van Gogh, The Schoolboy

Van Gogh, The Schoolboy

Van Gogh, The Arlesienne

Van Gogh, The Arlesienne

Fayum Mummy Portrait of a Woman

Fayum Mummy Portrait of a Woman

Wall Painting in the Tomb of Pharaoh Ay

Wall Painting in the Tomb of Pharaoh Ay

Sandro Botticelli, Three Miracles of Saint Zenobius

Sandro Botticelli, Three Miracles of Saint Zenobius

Sandro Botticelli, Four Scenes from the Early Life of Saint Zenobius

Sandro Botticelli, Four Scenes from the Early Life of Saint Zenobius

Amedeo Modigliani, Jeanne Hébuterne

Amedeo Modigliani, Jeanne Hébuterne

Amedeo Modigliani, Portrait of a Young Woman

Amedeo Modigliani, Portrait of a Young Woman

Titian, Death of Actaeon

Titian, Death of Actaeon

Titian, Diana and Actaeon

Titian, Diana and Actaeon

Titian, Diana and Callisto

Titian, Diana and Callisto

Vermeer, Girl with the Red Hat

Vermeer, Girl with the Red Hat

Vermeer, The Concert

Vermeer, The Concert

Vermeer, A Maid Asleep

Vermeer, A Maid Asleep

Vermeer, Girl With a Pearl Earring

Vermeer, Girl With a Pearl Earring

Rembrandt, Self-Portrait at the Age of 63

Rembrandt, Self-Portrait at the Age of 63

Rembrandt, Portrait of Margaretha de Geer

Rembrandt, Portrait of Margaretha de Geer

Rembrandt, Portrait of Jacob Trip

Rembrandt, Portrait of Jacob Trip

Rembrandt, An Elderly Man as Saint Paul

Rembrandt, An Elderly Man as Saint Paul

Rembrandt, A Woman Bathing in a Stream

Rembrandt, A Woman Bathing in a Stream

Rembrandt, The Woman Taken in Adultery

Rembrandt, The Woman Taken in Adultery

Rembrandt, Self-Portrait at the Age of 34

Rembrandt, Self-Portrait at the Age of 34

Rembrandt, Portrait of Aechje Claesdr

Rembrandt, Portrait of Aechje Claesdr

Monet, Lavacourt under Snow

Monet, Lavacourt under Snow

Monet, The Beach at Trouville

Monet, The Beach at Trouville

Kandinsky, Picture with a black arch

Kandinsky, Picture with a black arch

Edvard Munch, The Sick Child

Edvard Munch, The Sick Child

Edvard Munch, Madonna

Edvard Munch, Madonna

Monet, The Petit Bras of the Seine at Argenteuil

Monet, The Petit Bras of the Seine at Argenteuil

Rembrandt, A Bearded Man in a Cap

Rembrandt, A Bearded Man in a Cap

Hieronymus Bosch, Visions of the Hereafter

Hieronymus Bosch, Visions of the Hereafter

Hieronymus Bosch, The Adoration of the Magi (New York)

Hieronymus Bosch, The Adoration of the Magi (New York)

Hieronymus Bosch, The Adoration of the Magi (Madrid)

Hieronymus Bosch, The Adoration of the Magi (Madrid)

Hieronymus Bosch, Saint Christopher

Hieronymus Bosch, Saint Christopher

Hieronymus Bosch, The Haywain Triptych

Hieronymus Bosch, The Haywain Triptych

Caravaggio, Martha and Mary Magdalene

Caravaggio, Martha and Mary Magdalene

Van Gogh, The Starry Night

Van Gogh, The Starry Night

Van Dyck, Lord John Stuart and his Brother, Lord Bernard Stuart

Van Dyck, Lord John Stuart and his Brother, Lord Bernard Stuart

Van Dyck, Equestrian Portrait of Charles I

Van Dyck, Equestrian Portrait of Charles I

Van Dyck, Lady Thimbelby and Dorothy, Viscountess Andover

Van Dyck, Lady Thimbelby and Dorothy, Viscountess Andover

Van Dyck, The Abbé Scaglia Adoring the Virgin and Child

Van Dyck, The Abbé Scaglia Adoring the Virgin and Child

Van Dyck, Charity

Van Dyck, Charity

Titian, Portrait of a Man with a Quilted Sleeve

Titian, Portrait of a Man with a Quilted Sleeve

Titian, Portrait of a Lady (La Schiavona)

Titian, Portrait of a Lady (La Schiavona)

Titian, The Holy Family with a Shepherd

Titian, The Holy Family with a Shepherd

Titian, Noli me Tangere

Titian, Noli me Tangere

Murillo, Christ Healing the Paralytic

Murillo, Christ Healing the Paralytic

Raphael, The Procession to Calvary

Raphael, The Procession to Calvary

Raphael, The Mond Crucifixion

Raphael, The Mond Crucifixion

Raphael, Saint John the Baptist Preaching

Raphael, Saint John the Baptist Preaching

Raphael, Saint Catherine of Alexandria

Raphael, Saint Catherine of Alexandria

Degas, Ballet Dancers

Degas, Ballet Dancers

El Greco, Portrait of Jorge Manuel

El Greco, Portrait of Jorge Manuel

El Greco, Disrobing of Christ

El Greco, Disrobing of Christ

Cézanne, Hillside in Provence

Cézanne, Hillside in Provence

Titian, Venus and Adonis

Titian, Venus and Adonis

Titian, Sacred and Prophane Love

Titian, Sacred and Prophane Love

Giotto, Madonna and Child

Giotto, Madonna and Child

Giotto, Pentecost

Giotto, Pentecost

Rubens, The Gerbier Family

Rubens, The Gerbier Family

Rubens, Samson and Delilah

Rubens, Samson and Delilah

Tintoretto, Christ Washing the Feet of the Disciples

Tintoretto, Christ Washing the Feet of the Disciples

Tintoretto, The Origin of the Milky Way

Tintoretto, The Origin of the Milky Way

Rembrandt, Hendrickje Stoffels

Rembrandt, Hendrickje Stoffels

Rembrandt, Saskia in Arcadian Costume

Rembrandt, Saskia in Arcadian Costume

Cézanne, Bay of l’Estaque

Cézanne, Bay of l’Estaque

Canaletto, Stonemason’s Yard

Canaletto, Stonemason’s Yard

Tintoretto, Saint George and the Dragon

Tintoretto, Saint George and the Dragon

Velázquez, The Surrender of Breda

Velázquez, The Surrender of Breda

Velázquez, Bust of Philip IV

Velázquez, Bust of Philip IV

Velázquez, Las Meninas

Velázquez, Las Meninas

Bellini, Feast of the Gods

Bellini, Feast of the Gods

Degas, After the Bath

Degas, After the Bath

Rembrandt, Self-Portrait

Rembrandt, Self-Portrait

Rembrandt, A Young Lady Smiling

Rembrandt, A Young Lady Smiling

Rembrandt, The Rape of Ganymede

Rembrandt, The Rape of Ganymede

Rembrandt, Saskia With a Flower

Rembrandt, Saskia With a Flower

Rembrandt, Self-Portrait with Saskia

Rembrandt, Self-Portrait with Saskia

Vermeer, Woman Holding a Balance

Vermeer, Woman Holding a Balance

Vermeer, The Procuress

Vermeer, The Procuress

Vermeer, The Girl with a Wine Glass

Vermeer, The Girl with a Wine Glass

Vermeer, View of Delft

Vermeer, View of Delft

Morisot, Summer’s Day

Morisot, Summer’s Day

Manet, Music in the Tuileries

Manet, Music in the Tuileries

Vermeer, Christ in the House of Martha and Mary

Vermeer, Christ in the House of Martha and Mary

Georges Seurat, A Sunday on La Grande Jatte

Georges Seurat, A Sunday on La Grande Jatte

Cima, The Incredulity of Saint Thomas

Cima, The Incredulity of Saint Thomas

Raphael, The Sistine Madonna

Raphael, The Sistine Madonna

Velázquez, Apollo in the Forge of Vulcan

Velázquez, Apollo in the Forge of Vulcan

Degas, Combing the Hair

Degas, Combing the Hair

Cézanne, Chestnut Trees at Jas de Bouffan

Cézanne, Chestnut Trees at Jas de Bouffan

Rembrandt, Belshazzar’s Feast

Rembrandt, Belshazzar’s Feast

Titian, The Aldobrandini Madonna

Titian, The Aldobrandini Madonna

Titian, Bacchus and Ariadne

Titian, Bacchus and Ariadne