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Emerald Green, Paris Green (Historical Pigment- Obsolete)

PG21

Alternate Names

Scheele's Green

Schweinfurt green

Pigment Description

Extremely Toxic. Discontinued, obsolete. Paris Green, historical Emerald Green, Schweinfurt Green. Not suitable for use.

Resources

PG21 pigment data from David G. Myers, The Color of Art Pigment Database, Artiscreation.com

CAMEO Materials Database: Conservation & Art Materials Encyclopedia Online, Museum of Fine Arts Boston. (Accessed June 2025). Emerald Green https://cameo.mfa.org/wiki/Emerald_green. Museum of Fine Arts Boston.

Stats

Lightfastness

Reactive, color shifts reported

Shifts color. Incompatible with sulfurous pigments

Toxicity

Extremely Toxic

CAMEO comments on the extreme toxicity of this pigment. This green is not safe to be around even after it is painted out. Treat all pigments and paints with studio safety protocols.

Dry Time

Very Slow

Mayer assigns this pigment a very slow dry time, and mentions that it forms fairly hard paint films.

Oil Content

Low

Chemical Name

copper acetoarsenite

Cu(C₂H₃O₂)₂.₃Cu(AsO₂)₂

with PG21 (Emerald Green, Paris Green (Historical Pigment- Obsolete))

No single-pigment Oil found with PG21

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