LIME WHITE

description of Lime White:

Lime white consists of two kind of pigments, Chalk and Bianco San Giovanni Chalk
It is known from prehistory and is used until today. It is a calcium carbonate, calcite.
Bianco di San Giovanni is a special kind of lime white pigment. is dried lime which is reduced to powder and then immersed in the water for eight days that is changed each day. It is then made into small cakes that are left to dry in the sun. Therefore, Bianco di san Giovanni is calcium carbonate plus calcium hydroxide.

calcium carbonate (chalk)
calcium carbonate + calcium hydroxide (Bianco San Giovanni)

Frescoes are made of three layers: the support (commonly a brick wall); arriccio (the preliminary layer of lime plaster with sand spread on the masonry); and intonaco (top layer lime plaster). Pigments are painted on this otter layer of lime still wet.

History of Lime white:

Lime white from prehistory. Bianco di San Giovanni is a lime white pigment first described in literature by Cennino Cennini. I have used the name "Bianco di San Giovanni" to describe the preparation of a white lime pigment and it is therefore likely, this important white pigment was in use by artists before Cennini's time.

When was Lime white used?                                                         Used until

prehistory (chalk)                                              continues in use (chalk, bianco di San Giovanni)

XIIIth Century (Bianco di San Giovanni)

How Lime white is made:Origin: artificial

Limestone is a rock derived from marine ooze and largely composed of fossil remains of unicellular algae. Mineral: calcite

Natural variety of pigment crude chalk is left to weather, then ground and washed.

The ground pigment: