This site is community-supported. We may earn a commission (at no extra cost) when you buy through our links.

Litharge / Massicot (Genuine Historical Pigment)

PY46

Pigment Description

Sometimes Litharge and Massicot are used interchangeably but they are distinct, and the Natural Pigments site has information about their differences. Litharge and massicot are rarely used as a standalone pigments in oil and are more often used as driers. Litharge (also called the alpha form) tends to be more orange and Massicot (the beta form) is more yellow.

This substance is toxic. The Artist's Handbook highlights its toxicity and instability.

Monona Rossol's work has a section on health problems from lead pigments in the Artist's Guide to Health and Safety. Her most recent research can be found through her site. Lead is toxic.

Resources

PY46 pigment data from David G. Myers, The Color of Art Pigment Database, Artiscreation.com

Information about PY46 from Bruce MacEvoy, Handprint Guide to Watercolors,

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.

Stats

Toxicity

Toxic

Artiscreation assigns this pigment a "C", meaning "\Hazardous, use appropriate precautions for handling toxic substances, especially if working with the dry powder; Do not ingest; Avoid dust & spray." There are also extremely serious hazards for pigments containing lead. We are not toxicologists so we suggest consulting third party research as well as manufacturer MSDS. Also see Monona Rossol's research available upon request here for more information on pigments with lead.

Oil Content

Low

Low by volume

with PY46 (Litharge / Massicot (Genuine Historical Pigment))

No single-pigment Oil found with PY46

DISCLAIMER: Please note that we are not experts in health and safety and we are not toxicologists, please consult the proper experts. We are not liable for any issues that may arise from the use of our website or its contents. The information contained in this site is provided without warranty or guarantee of any kind. We do not necessarily endorse any other website that are linked from our site. For any important pigment specs, please reference the manufacturer details. If you discover errors or omissions, please reach out through our contact form. Thank you.

We value your privacy and won't share your email address.

Check out Paint List on YouTube

Follow Paint List on Instagram

This is an independent paint review site for artists that is powered by affiliate links. That means that we may make commissions on purchases that you make at no extra cost to you.

* Prices are approximate, vary by retailer, and are be subject to change. Please check the retailer's website for the most up-to-date price. These prices also do not include shipping, VAT, or any other fees. But we don't paint because it's cheap, do we? No, we paint for the love of it.

Disclaimer: This website does not make any warranties or guarantees about the completeness, reliability, and accuracy of this information. Any action you take upon the information you find on this website is strictly at your own risk. We will not be liable for any losses and/or damages in connection with the use of our website.