What Is Venetian Turpentine?

Turpentine is a fluid distilled from the resin of trees, typically those of the pine variety. It is most often used as a solvent, in paint thinners and cleaning products, but also as a varnish and as part of other organic compounds. Venetian turpentine is made from a specific type of plant and has a different use than most types of turpentine.

  1. Manufacture

    • Venetian turpentine is made specifically from the resin of larch trees, especially the Larix decidua found in the areas of the Alps and Carpathian Mountains. True Venetian turpentine is only made from larch tree resin. If the substance is made from anything else, such as a standard pine, it is not Venetian.

    Properties

    • Venetian turpentine has a natural golden-yellow color, which comes from the larch tree resin from which it is derived. In the past, merchants used to sell standard pine turpentine as Venetian turpentine by using a layer of water over the top to make the reddish color of the pine turpentine match that of Venetian. Venetian turpentine is soluble in acetone, ether and water, and partially soluble in petroleum hydrocarbons.

    Uses with Horses

    • The most common use of Venetian turpentine, particularly pure Venetian turpentine and not that which has been mixed with anything else, is in application to horse hooves. The turpentine is applied after shoeing or other foot treatments as a therapeutic measure to help the bottom of the hoof heal. It is also used to seal out water and prevent softening of the hoof in wetter locations. In such cases the turpentine is painted on daily and a paper bag is wrapped over the hoof until the hoof is hardened.

    In Paint

    • Venetian turpentine is also at times mixed with certain oil paints to increase the paint's flexibility, transparency and gloss. It is important that the turpentine be mixed into only oil paints as in other types it may producing a darkening effect and cause cracking.