Casein paint

Description

A water-based, matte paint with a casein binder. Dry casein is hydrolyzed with alkalis (casein lime, casein borax, casein ammonia, etc.) to form a clear viscous solution. Casein paints dry to a matte, brittle film that is insoluble in water and impervious to most paint strippers. It may sometimes be removed with strong alkaline or hydroxide ammonia solutions. Casein paints have been used for panel paintings, wall paintings, and as architectural paints. It is too brittle for use on canvas. Casein paints were sometimes varnished or glazed to imitate oil paints. Commercial production of casein paints began about 1900. Prior to that time, most casein paints were prepared by the painter.

Casein paint

Synonyms and Related Terms

milk paint; casein colour (Br.); peinture la casine (Fr.); pintura a la casena (Esp.); pittura alla caseina (It.); pintura de casena (Port.); farmer's paint; casein tempera; casein painting; lime casein; badigeon

Other Properties

Insoluble in water or ethanol when dry. Soluble in strong alkalis and ammonium hydroxide. Impervious to most modern paint strippers.

Hazards and Safety

May yellow with time. Susceptible to mold growth.

Additional Information

K.Wehlte, The Materials and Techniques of Painting, Van Nostrand Reinhold Co., New York, 1975. R. J. Gettens and G.L. Stout, Painting Materials, A Short Encyclopaedia, Dover Publications, New York, 1966.

Authority

• R. J. Gettens, G.L. Stout, R. J. Gettens, G.L. Stout, Painting Materials, A Short Encyclopaedia, Dover Publications, New York, 1966

• Dictionary of Building Preservation, Ward Bucher, ed., John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York City, 1996

• Kurt Wehlte, Kurt Wehlte, The Materials and Techniques of Painting, Van Nostrand Reinhold Co., New York, 1975

• Paint in America, Robert Moss (ed.), John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1994 Comment: M.Phillips, "A Survey of Paint Technolology"

• Encyclopedia Britannica, http://www.britannica.com Comment: "Casein Painting." Encyclopdia Britannica. 2004. Encyclopdia Britannica Premium Service. 14 Apr. 2004 .

• Tom Rowland, Noel Riley, Tom Rowland, Noel Riley, A-Z Guide to Cleaning, Conserving and Repairing Antiques, Constable and Co., Ltd., London, 1981

• Marie Svoboda, Marie Svoboda, Conservation Survey Index, unpublished, 1997

• Art and Architecture Thesaurus Online, http://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabulary/aat/, J. Paul Getty Trust, Los Angeles, 2000