Chrome oxide green
Chrome oxide green has been identified on a J.M.W. Turner painting which dates back to 1812.
Manufacturer / product code: Kremer / 44200
Chemical description: chromium(III)-oxide. Kremer PDF
Color: green
Color Index: PG17
Raman Spectroscopy 532 nm – ElviRa Spectrometer for Art
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Raman spectroscopy 785 nm
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Raman spectroscopy 830 nm
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Raman spectroscopy 1064 nm
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XRF spectroscopy
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Reflectance Spectroscopy (200-1000 nm) – GorgiasUV Spectrometer
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NIR Reflectance spectroscopy
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FT-IR Spectroscopy (Non-invasive Diffuse Reflectance Probe)
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Chrome Oxide Green—also known as chromium(III) oxide, chromia, or Pigment Green 17 is a synthetic, opaque green pigment of remarkable durability and versatility.
The pigment’s story begins in the early 19th century, following the discovery of chromium by Louis Nicolas Vauquelin in 1797. By 1809, methods for producing anhydrous chromic oxide were being developed to manufacture green enamel in porcelain factories. Its adoption as an artist’s pigment lagged, but by the 1840s, manufacturers like Pannetier and Binet in Paris offered it as a stable green pigment; J.M.W. Turner’s 1812 paintings have even been found to contain early samples of this pigment.
Chrome Oxide Green stands out for its exceptional lightfastness—rated a top grade of 8 in thinned, medium, and concentrated forms—along with strong chemical and heat resistance.
The pigment is dense, slightly yellow-green in tone, and reliably opaque, making it a go-to choice for artists’ underpainting, foliage, and industrial applications.
Its robustness has led to wide use across domains: from artist oils, acrylics, watercolors, frescoes, and ceramics, to industrial coatings, automotive finishes, banknote inks, and infrared-reflective camouflage paints.
In summary, Chrome Oxide Green is a cornerstone pigment celebrated for its stability, opacity, and versatility steeped in over two centuries of artistic and industrial legacy.
