lithopone

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Lithopone

Used as a white pigment or adulterant in artist paints, especially in economy priced paints.

Manufacturer / product code: Kremer / 46100
Chemical description: co-precipitate of zinc sulfide and barium sulfate
Color: white
Color Index: PW5

Lithopone is a synthetic white pigment developed in the late 19th century as a safer and more economical alternative to lead white. Composed primarily of barium sulfate and zinc sulfide, it was invented in the 1870s and quickly became popular due to its good covering power, clean tone, and low toxicity. Its introduction marks an important chapter in the evolution of industrial pigments, reflecting the growing demand for stable and affordable whites for both fine-art and commercial applications.

Although lithopone never replaced lead white in the palettes of traditional oil painters, it found extensive use in the early 20th century in paints, primers, and grounds, especially in industrial and decorative coatings. In the realm of art, it became common in watercolors, posters, printing inks, and mixed painting materials, favored for its brilliant white appearance and resistance to darkening — a drawback of some other whites of the time.

Compared to zinc white and the later titanium white, lithopone has moderate hiding power and limited durability in oils, which restricted its adoption by professional artists. Nonetheless, it played a key transitional role in the shift from historic pigments to modern synthetics, shaping the materials of early modern art and the commercial graphics industry. Today, lithopone remains important from a conservation perspective, offering valuable clues for dating and identifying works produced in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

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Pigments with acrylic binder (Pigments Checker)

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Pure pigments (no binder, just powder)

DOWNLOAD Free Raman Database

DOWNLOAD paper: “Pigments Checker version 3.0, a handy set for conservation scientists: A free online Raman spectra database”

Lithopone 46100 Raman Spectroscopy Pigments Checker

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XRF spectroscopy

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Pigments Checker (TP-MSI calibration card included)

Pigments databases

CAMEO MFA

The Conservation & Art Materials Encyclopedia Online (CAMEO) is a comprehensive, searchable resource providing detailed technical information on materials (pigments), techniques, and tools used in art conservation, preservation, and scientific analysis.

IRUG (Infrared and Raman Users Group) Database
Open-access database of FTIR and Raman spectra for cultural heritage materials. Includes many historical pigments, dyes, and binders.