PV23 CI#51319
50% of Permanent Violet R in a tube
Toxicity: Non-toxic
Lightfastness: 8/8
Drying time: Very Slow
Color/ Tone: Blue-leaning violet (shifts red in thin layers, blue in masstone)
Transparency: Semi-transparent – ideal for glazing and optical mixing.
Permanent Violet (PV23, Dioxazine Purple, CI# 51319) is a deep, intensely pigmented synthetic violet with a subtle red-blue shift. Renowned for its strength, transparency, and lightfastness, it has become a staple in modern palettes, replacing fugitive historical purples like Tyrian or Murexide.
History:
In 1952, it was the first synthesized as part of the dioxazine family, a class of organic pigments. It solved the long-standing problem of stable, affordable violet pigments (older options faded or were prohibitively expensive).
Famous Works:
- Francis Bacon (1909–1992): "Study for Portrait of Lucian Freud" (1964)
