Rublev Colors Green Bice is a cool, pale green made from basic copper carbonate (the same chemistry as malachite, but typically paler and more uniform). It’s valued for its soft, slightly bluish “mineral green” and for mixtures that need a gentle, naturalistic green without the intensity of modern phthalos. Use it for muted foliage, distant greens, and atmospheric passages; note that heavy grinding can lighten the hue. As with other copper pigments, avoid contaminating dust, and be cautious about mixing with sulfur-containing pigments or exposing finished work to sulfur fumes, which can darken copper greens over time.
| Pigment Names | |
|---|---|
| Common Names: | Chinese (Simplified): 绿色碧石铜绿 English: Green Bice French: Vert bice German: Grüner Bice Italian: Verde bice Russian: Зелёный бице Spanish: Verde bice |
| Synonyms: | English: Bremen green, green verditer, green bice, French green, mountain green (vert de montagne) |
Origin and History
Artificial basic copper carbonate pigments are mentioned in 17th-century literature and were noted in a late-16th-century price list. Silver refiners produced basic copper carbonate in the 17th century. The process was difficult, slow, and somewhat unpredictable, and the resulting hue could range from azure blue to green with a distinctly bluish cast. By the mid-18th century, the ‘refiner’s’ process was replaced by a less expensive manufacturing method.
SourceGreen bice (also called green verditer) is made by precipitating basic copper carbonate from a copper-salt solution onto calcium carbonate (chalk/whiting), after which the pigment is washed and dried. In place of the slower ‘refiner’s process, copper carbonate may be produced by precipitation from a solution of copper salt, such as vitriol (copper sulfate), by the addition of pearl ash (potassium carbonate). Pigment made using these substances, however, can contain a proportion of copper hydroxide. Rublev Green Bice is made according to 18th-century recipes.
Permanence and CompatibilityGreen bice is generally stable in light and under normal atmospheric conditions. However, like other copper carbonate pigments, it can darken in the presence of sulfur fumes (or other sulfide exposure), and it can be affected by strong acids or strong alkalis. For optimal long-term results, avoid situations in which the paint film may be exposed to sulfur-containing pollutants, and exercise caution when mixing with sulfur-bearing pigments.
Oil Absorption and GrindingGreen bice absorbs a small amount of oil (22 g oil per 100 g of pigment). Grinding green bice will lighten its hue.
ToxicityGreen bice contains copper, which is rated as toxic from prolonged exposure if inhaled or ingested. Care should be taken when handling dry-powder pigment to prevent dust inhalation.
Pigment: Green Bice
| Pigment Information | |
|---|---|
| Color: | Green |
| Colour Index: | Pigment Green 39 (77492) |
| Chemical Name: | Basic Copper Carbonate (Copper Carbonate Hydroxide) |
| Chemical Formula: | Cu2CO3(OH)2 |
| ASTM Lightfastness Rating | |
| Acrylic: | Not Tested |
| Oil: | Not Tested |
| Watercolor: | Not Tested |
| Properties | |
| Density: | 3.6–4.0 g/cm3 |
| Hardness: | Mohs 3.5–4.0 |
| Refractive Index: | 1.65–1.91 |
| Oil Absorption: | 22 g oil/100 g pigment |
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