Gamblin 1980 Oils - PBr7 Raw Umber

Raw Umber is vigorously drier due to its high manganese content (which also gives Umbers their dark colour).

Pigment Composition and Permanence

• Pigment Name: PBr7 Raw Umber (hydrated iron oxide, manganese)
• Pigment Type: earth

Properties

Raw Umber is a cool, transparent brown ranging from yellowish brown to greenish brown. It has surprisingly good tinting strength and a high opacity level, mixes well with greens, and is quick-drying in oil form.

It has excellent colour properties and can create a variety of subtle, clear tints when mixed with white. It grays when mixed with blue and white. Raw Umber can tend towards chalkiness in dark mixes in oil form.

Permanence

Raw Umber has excellent permanence.

Toxicity

Raw Umber itself is considered non-toxic. If contaminated by manganese compounds, it may be highly toxic if inhaled and moderately toxic if ingested.

History

This pigment gets its name from the Latin word umbra, meaning shadow or shade. Its full name is terra di ombra, meaning earth of shadow/shade, due to its original extraction from Umbria, Italy. It has been used as a pigment since prehistoric times. Currently, the finest umber comes from Cyprus.