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Gypsum

PW25

Alternate Names

Alabaster

Gesso

Terra Alba

Plaster of Paris

Pigment Description

A filler in paint which is more famous for its use in gesso and grounds. Artiscreation lists Calcium sulfate dihydrate as a high quality Terra Alba, and Alabaster Natural Hydrated Calcium Sulfate, under PW25.

It is close to transparent in oil.

Monona Rossol notes that one should employ PNOS limits for respirable dust, see her work available through her site. Used as an extender.

Resources

PW25 pigment data from David G. Myers, The Color of Art Pigment Database, Artiscreation.com

Gettens, Rutherford J., and George L. Stout. Painting Materials A Short Encyclopedia. Dover Publications, Inc. New York 1966. Book Available here

Rossol, Monona. The Artist's Complete Health and Safety Guide. New York, NY : Allworth Press, 2001. The book is rather dated, updated information is available from her website.

CAMEO Materials Database: Conservation & Art Materials Encyclopedia Online, Museum of Fine Arts Boston. (Accessed June 2025). Calcium Sulfate Dihydrate https://cameo.mfa.org/wiki/Calcium_sulfate,_dihydrate. Museum of Fine Arts Boston.

with PW25 (Gypsum)
No single-pigment Oil found with PW25

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