The lead white pigment was used and synthesised for cosmetic and artistic purposes since antiquity. Ancient texts describe their recipes, their preparation processes or their location of production. In this study, we describe the results obtained on several paint samples from Matthias Grünewald, a major painter at the beginning of the German Renaissance. Thanks to X-ray diffraction analyses using synchrotron radiation, it is possible to relate the composition of the paint samples with the master's ancient recipes. Different approaches were used, in reflection and transmission modes, directly on minute samples or on paint cross-sections embedded in resin. The characterisation of the lead white pigments reveals variations in terms of composition, graininess and proportion of mineral phases. The present work shows the presence of lead white as differentiable main composition groups, which could be characteristic of a period, a know-how or a geographical origin. In this way, we aim at understanding the choices and the trading of pigments to realize paintings during Northern European Renaissance.