Description
First recorded as a colour name in English in 1753, Venetian Red was traditionally made using the natural earth Rosso Veneziano from the Southern Alps near Venice. Rosso Veneziano was a major ingredient of the pigment Cinabrese, much used in Italian Renaissance paintings. Cennino Cennini in his Craftsman’s handbook, Il Libro dell’Arte recommended mixing Rosso Veneziano with lime white, in proportions of two to one, to paint the skin tones of faces, hands and nudes. Our Venetian Red is a blend of Italian red and yellow ochres and burnt umber.