Sienna is indeed a color. It is an earthy shade of orange-brown that derives its name from the pigment made from the raw sienna clay found around Siena, Italy. Sienna has been used as a pigment in art for centuries and is valued for its warm, rich tones.
What is sienna?
Sienna refers to both a pigment and the range of colors made from that pigment. As a pigment, sienna comes in two main varieties:
- Raw sienna – This is the natural, unmodified clay pigment. It has a yellowish-brown tone.
- Burnt sienna – This is raw sienna that has been heated, changing it to a darker, redder brown.
So in summary, the colors described as sienna are yellowish-browns to orange-browns. They are opaque, earthy tones that are neither extremely dark nor extremely bright.
The history of sienna pigment
Sienna has been used as a pigment since prehistoric times. Primitive forms were used in cave paintings dating back over 30,000 years ago. However, the pigment truly became important during the Renaissance era. Italian painters found that the sienna clay from around Siena produced rich, warm brown tones perfect for shading.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, sienna pigment was exported from Italy to other parts of Europe and gained popularity with artists. It was economical and less toxic than some other pigments. By the 19th century, artificial pigments were developed but sienna continued to be used. Today, it remains readily available to both fine artists and commercial manufacturers.
How is sienna pigment made?
Raw sienna comes directly from the natural clay deposits. To produce burnt sienna, the clay is mined, cleaned and then heated slowly to temperatures around 2000°F. Heating it changes the iron oxide compounds in the clay, resulting in the darker, redder burnt sienna. Once cooled, the pigment is ground into a fine powder.
Sienna can also be produced synthetically. This reproduces the effect of heating the clay by using different iron oxide compounds. Having a synthesized version makes the pigment more consistent in color.
Characteristics of sienna pigment
Here are some key features of natural and synthetic sienna pigments:
| Characteristic | Raw sienna | Burnt sienna |
|---|---|---|
| Color tone | Yellowish brown | Reddish brown |
| Transparency | Opaque | Opaque |
| Permanence | Excellent | Excellent |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic | Non-toxic |
Key things to note are that sienna is opaque, permanent, and non-toxic. It has excellent archival qualities, making it well-suited to works intended to last.
How is sienna used in art?
Sienna is versatile pigment that can be used in a variety of mediums. Here are some of the common artistic uses of sienna:
- Painting – Oil paints, acrylics, watercolors all utilize sienna for its coloring properties.
- Frescoes – Sienna can be used to make buon fresco wall paintings.
- Colored pencils and pastels – Sienna provides a good base color.
- Inks – Sienna works for fabric printing, ink washes, and calligraphy.
- Pottery glazes – The pigment is used to create earthy glazes on ceramic pieces.
Sienna is valued for its ability to create natural, warm tones. Painters mix it with blues, greens, yellows, reds, and whites to produce subtle shades. Its opacity balances more transparent pigments. Raw sienna mixes well with other earth tones while burnt sienna Livens up darker tones.
Notable uses of sienna pigment
Many great artists have utilized sienna to bring life to their works. Here are some examples:
- Leonardo da Vinci – Used sienna for sfumato shading techniques.
- Rembrandt – Mixed sienna with lead white heavily in his portraits.
- Vincent Van Gogh – Often highlighted sienna in his landscape paintings.
- Georges Seurat – Built up layers of sienna and complementary colors in pointillist pieces.
- Frank Lloyd Wright – Had sienna pigments incorporated into stained glass, textiles, and pottery designs.
From Renaissance masters to pioneering modern artists, sienna has served as a versatile and appealing pigment over centuries of painting.
Sienna as a color name
In addition to referring to the pigment, “sienna” is used as a color name representing the range of earthy, orange-browns the pigment produces. It emerged as a color name in English in the early 1800s. Sienna sits between the yellow-browns labeled ochre and the red-browns labeled umber on the color spectrum. Specific shades include:
- Burnt sienna – RGB code #E97451 – A darker, reddish brown.
- Raw sienna – RGB code #D68A59 – A yellowish brown.
- Sienna – RGB code #882D17 – A medium saturated orange brown.
These shades vary somewhat between paint manufactures. But in general, “sienna” refers to the warm, clay-like colors from the pigment.
Uses of sienna as a color
Sienna shades are widely used to represent earthy subjects or evoke a natural, rustic feeling. Some examples include:
- Interior design – Sienna is used in paints, textiles and furnishings to give a natural, organic look.
- Landscaping – Sienna colored mulch and stone pavers complement gardens and wooded areas.
- Leather goods – Luggage, handbags, wallets and journals often come in shades of sienna.
- Cosmetics – Eye shadows, lipsticks, and nail polishes feature sienna hues.
- Automobiles – Cars, trucks, and SUVs may have burnt sienna metallic paint jobs.
Sienna shades work well in fall color palettes. They bring warmth alongside browns, greens, golds, and oranges. Sienna clothing also suits those with autumn seasonal coloring.
Sienna vs. similar color terms
Sienna has overlap with several other color names that represent shades of orange-brown. Here’s how it compares:
- Rust – Rust has more of a vivid, reddish-orange tone compared to sienna’s muted earthiness.
- Ochre – Ochre is golden-yellow brown while sienna leans orange. But burnt sienna and ochre overlap.
- Sepia – Sepia is a grayish, muted brown unlike the orange notes in sienna.
- Umber – Umber is darker and redder-brown than even burnt sienna.
- Tan – Tan is distinctly beige-yellow rather than orange-brown.
So in summary, sienna has more warmth and richer pigmentation than similar earth tones.
Conclusion
Sienna clearly occupies a distinct place on the color spectrum. Its earthy shades have brought natural beauty to art and design for centuries. This pigment turned color name represents the warm, organic hues of clay from the hills of Tuscany. So next time you see that orange-brown color, you can confidently say, “Yes, sienna is indeed a color!”