PBr7—Raw Umber

Pigment Type

earth

Chemical Name

hydrated iron oxide

Chemical Formula

α-FeO³⁺(OH) or Fe₂O₃ × MnO₂

Properties

Raw Umber is a cool, transparent brown ranging from yellowish brown to greenish brown. It has surprisingly good tinting strength, a high level of opacity, mixes well with greens, and is quick drying in oil form. It has excellent color properties and can create a variety of subtle, clear tints when mixed with white. It grays when mixed with blue and white. Raw Umber can tend towards chalkiness in dark mixes in oil form.

Permanence

Raw Umber has excellent permanence.

Toxicity

Raw Umber itself is considered non-toxic. If contaminated by manganese compounds, it may be highly toxic if inhaled and moderately toxic if ingested.

History

This pigment gets its name from the Latin word umbra, meaning shadow or shade. Its full name is listed as terra di ombra, meaning earth of shadow/shade, due to its original extraction from the area of Umbria, Italy. It has been used as a pigment since prehistoric times. Currently, the finest umber comes from Cyprus.

Alternate Names

Chestnut Brown, Euchrome, Jacaranta Brown, Mars Brown, Raw Brown, Sicilian Brown. Cyprus Umber, Turkey Brown, and Turkey Umber are the best quality umbers.