Ceruse (Lootwit) White Oil Paint
Known as lootwit in the seventeenth century, Ceruse is a semi-opaque mixture of lead white and chalk ground in linseed oil like that used by Rembrandt and Velázquez. Learn more.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
According to the German Chemical Prohibition Ordinance, this item can only be sold to professional users, resellers, or research institutions. Please fill out the Chemical Prohibition Ordinance form and return it to Natural Pigments by email, together with any documents that may be required. We will process your order as soon as we have received the documents.
Download the form here: German Chemical Prohibition Ordinance
Ceruse White Oil Paint is a semi-opaque mixture of lead white and calcite (chalk) ground in linseed oil like that used by Rembrandt and Velázquez. It is used for translucent white effects and soft tints when mixed with other colors. Ceruse is made with lead white and medium dry-ground calcite (the calcium carbonate mineral) with a low oil absorption rate like lead white to maintain the quick-drying character of lead white. Calcite is semi-opaque in oil, giving ceruse its soft white character. In the seventeenth century, this mixture of lead white and calcite was favored as a mixing white by artists such as Rembrandt and was known as lootwit in Dutch.
The name ceruse originates from the Latin cerássa and currently refers to lead white (basic lead carbonate) pigment. In the seventeenth century, ceruse designated any white pigment from tin or lead plates. Later, in the nineteenth century, ceruse was used for white pigments containing lead and chalk.
References
Hans Kurath. Middle English Dictionary, Part C.2. University of Michigan Press, 1959. p. 133.
Ralph Mayer, A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques, Harper and Row Publishers, New York, 1969 (also 1945 printing).
Susan E. Schur, Conservation Terminology: A review of Past and Current Nomenclature of Materials, Technology, and Conservation, Spring (p.34-39); Summer (p.35-38); Fall (p.25-36), 1985.
The American Heritage Dictionary or Encarta, via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998.
Random House, Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, Grammercy Book, New York, 1997.
Composition and Permanence
| Ceruse | |
| Color: | Ceruse |
| Pigment: | Mixed pigment (See "Pigment Information" below) |
| Binder: | Linseed oil |
| Additive(s): | None |
| Pigment 1 Information | |
| Pigment: | Lead White |
| Pigment Classification: | Synthetic inorganic |
| Colour Index: | Pigment White 1 (77597) |
| Chemical Name: | Basic lead carbonate or Lead(II) carbonate basic |
| Chemical Formula: | 2PbCO3.Pb(OH)2 |
| CAS No. | 1319-46-6 |
| Pigment 2 Information | |
| Pigment: | Calcite (dry ground chalk) |
| Pigment Classification: | Natural inorganic |
| Colour Index: | Pigment White 18 |
| Chemical Name: | Calcium carbonate |
| Chemical Formula: | CaCO3 |
| CAS No. | 13397-26-7 |
| Properties | |
| Code: | 809 |
| Series: | 3 |
| Opacity: | Semi-Opaque |
| Tinting Strength: | Medium |
| Drying Rate: | Medium |
| ASTM Lightfastness: | Not Listed |
| Permanence: | A - Permanent |
| Safety Information: | DANGER! CONTAINS LEAD. HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED. Avoid ingestion and skin contact. Wear protective clothing and gloves to prevent contact with the skin. Never use near children or pets. Conforms to ASTM D 4236. DANGER |
For a detailed explanation of the terms in the table above, please visit Composition and Permanence.
Notes
Some separation of pigment and oil may occur in Rublev Colours Artist Oils and is a natural process when no wax or stabilizers are added to paint to prevent this from occurring.
All images of color swatches on this website are only approximations of the actual color of the oil paint. We have carefully matched the color in these pictures on calibrated color monitors to the actual color. However, your results may vary because of the wide variance in color monitors.
Color Swatch Note: The color swatch was created with a thick application (left side) of color and a tint (right side) made with equal parts of color and titanium white and applied on acrylic primed cotton canvas.
Drawdown Note: The image of the "drawdown" contains a pre-mixed paint film of 6 mils (0.006 inches) thickness applied to a standard test card to examine color consistency, opacity, and other qualities. The drawdowns show the full-color strength (mass tone) on the left and mixed in a 1:2 ratio with titanium white on the right. The bottom area of the drawdowns is scraped to show undertones.
| SKU | 820-809 |
|---|---|
| Brand | Rublev Colours |
| Vendor | Rublev Colours |
| Processing Time | Usually ships the next business day. |
| Color | White |
| Pigment Type | Inorganic, Synthetic |
Hazard Pictograms
 |  |  |
| GHS07: Exclamation Mark | GHS08-2: Health Hazard | GHS09: Environment |
Signal Word: Danger
Hazard Designation
H302 Harmful if swallowed.
H332 Harmful if inhaled.
H360 May damage fertility or the unborn child.
H373 May cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure.
H410 Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects.
Safety Designation
P260 Do not breathe dust/fume/gas/mist/vapours/spray.
P261 Avoid breathing dust/ fume/ gas/ mist/ vapors/ spray.
P280 Wear protective gloves/ clothing/ eye/ face protection.
P281 Use personal protective equipment as required.
P405 Store locked up.
P501 Dispose of contents/ container according to regional, national and international regulations.
Order Processing
If the Processing Time for items in your order is "Usually ships within 24-48 hours", your order will usually be processed within 48 hours of receipt Monday through Friday. Orders received during weekends and holidays will be processed on the next business (working) day. Orders with longer processing times will be shipped when all items become available.
Shipping Rates
Please add your desired items and the delivery address to your basket to determine the exact shipping costs and options. The table below provides shipping rates for different weights to the countries we ship to.
Carriers
We use the following carriers to deliver orders:
 |  |  |
Below is an approximate guide to shipping costs for locations in Europe. Rates may change without notice.
| COUNTRY | ALPHA-2 | RATES PER PARCELS | CARRIER | |
| 0–10 kg | >10 kg–30 kg | |||
| Austria | AT | 11,50 € | 11,50 € | DPD |
| Belgium | BE | 10,95 € | 10,95 € | DPD |
| Bulgaria | BG | 20,25 € | 30,25 € | FedEx |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | BA | 49,25 € | 49,25 € | DPD |
| Cyprus | CY | 21,80 € | 29,30 € | FedEx |
| Switzerland | CH | 25,85 € | 42,98 € | FedEx |
| Czech Republic | CZ | 12,00 € | 12,00 € | DPD |
| Germany | DE | 5,50 € | 5,50 € | DPD |
| Denmark | DK | 12,00 € | 12,00 € | DPD |
| Spain | ES | 17,48 € | 28,50 € | FedEx |
| Estonia | EE | 21,70 € | 21,70 € | DPD |
| Finland | FI | 17,48 € | 28,50 € | FedEx |
| France | FR | 14,60 € | 14,60 € | DPD |
| United Kingdom | GB | – € | – € | – |
| Greece | GR | 17,48 € | 28,50 € | FedEx |
| Croatia | HR | 29,25 € | 29,25 € | DPD |
| Hungary | HU | 15,90 € | 15,90 € | DPD |
| Ireland | IE | 17,48 € | 28,50 € | FedEx |
| Iceland | IS | 30,70 € | 62,40 € | DHL |
| Italy | IT | 15,90 € | 15,90 € | DPD |
| Liechtenstein | LI | 25,85 € | 43,00 € | FedEx |
| Lithuania | LT | 21,70 € | 21,70 € | DPD |
| Luxembourg | LU | 10,95 € | 10,95 € | DPD |
| Latvia | LV | 21,70 € | 21,70 € | DPD |
| Malta | MT | 21,80 € | 30,25 € | FedEx |
| Monaco | MC | 15,95 € | 24,30 € | FedEx |
| Netherlands | NL | 10,95 € | 10,95 € | DPD |
| Norway | NO | 25,85 € | 43,00 € | FedEx |
| Poland | PL | 14,90 € | 14,90 € | DPD |
| Portugal | PT | 15,50 € | 15,50 € | DPD |
| Romania | RO | 21,80 € | 30,25 € | FedEx |
| Serbia | RS | 49,25 € | 49,25 € | DPD |
| Slovakia | SK | 15,90 € | 15,90 € | DPD |
| Slovenia | SI | 15,90 € | 15,90 € | DPD |
| Sweden | SE | 15,90 € | 15,90 € | DPD |
| Turkey | TR | 27,30 € | 46,20 € | FedEx |
Note: Countries in RED type are not members of the European Union.
Postal Service
Shipping (EU and non-EU countries):
Up to 500 grams Tracked: 6,85 €
Up to 1000 grams Tracked: 10,45 €
Up to 2000 grams Tracked: 20,50 €
Tracking
For tracking details, please log in to your Natural Pigments account.
We track all orders where a tracked delivery service has been selected.
We will update your order with the tracking information if the shipping carrier provides a tracking number. You can locate the tracking number for your order in the shipping confirmation email you receive when your order is shipped. (Look for the email with the subject line "Natural Pigments: Shipment # xxxxxxxxx for Order # xxxxxxxxx.") You can also find the tracking number by signing into your account and visiting My Account Dashboard under Recent Orders.
VAT for Orders within the European Union
VAT is not included in prices unless specified on the website as VAT INCLUSIVE. VAT is calculated for Germany at 19% on both order subtotal and shipping cost and is added to the order grand total.
VAT, Duties, and Tariffs for Orders Outside of the European Union
VAT is not included in prices and totals unless specified on the website as VAT INCLUSIVE. Duties, tariffs, and customs broker fees are not included in the prices and totals on the website. These charges are in addition to what you will pay when ordering. These charges originate in the delivery country, so please contact your local customs for more information.
Shipping Rates
The rate charged for the shipping of your order is based on the weight of your products and your location. Before the final checkout page, you will be shown what the shipping cost will be, and you will have a chance to abandon your order if you decide not to place it.
Shipping Damage
For shipping damage, customers should file a claim with the carrier immediately. Any discrepancy, including wrong or missing items, should be reported to Natural Pigments within twenty-four (24) hours of receipt.
Back Orders
We do not accept backorders for out-of-stock items. If you order an out-of-stock item, we will email you when we expect that product to be available. You will be among the first to receive the item when it becomes available. Natural Pigments will not charge your credit card for out-of-stock items.
