cobalt violet

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Cobalt violet

This page presents the Spectroscopic analysis of this pigment.
The pigment has been examined using XRF spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, and Reflectance Spectroscopy. These complementary techniques provide valuable insights into the pigment’s composition and structure.
This page aims to show which analytical methods are most effective for identifying this pigment in artworks and historical materials. By comparing results across different techniques, it serves as a practical reference for Heritage Science, Conservation, and Pigment Analysis.

The first real violet pigment prepared in 1859. Its high cost and low tinting power prevented its wider use in painting and it was replaced by the cleaner manganese violet.

Manufacturer / product code: Kremer / 45800
Chemical description: cobalt phosphate
Color: violet
Color Index: PV14
More info: Pigments Through The Ages Colourlex

Cobalt violet is one of the earliest synthetic violet pigments, introduced in the second half of the 19th century as artists sought stable alternatives to the fugitive organic violets then in use. Produced from cobalt salts combined with phosphates or arsenates (the earliest versions contained cobalt arsenate), it offered a softly luminous, slightly granulating purple unlike any natural pigment available at the time. Its delicate, cool hue quickly attracted painters of the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist periods, who valued its ability to create atmospheric shadows, floral tones, and subtle transitions in skies and landscapes.
In art, cobalt violet is appreciated for its gentle transparency, low tinting strength, and unique pastel clarity. These characteristics make it ideal for glazing, optical mixing, and building soft chromatic layers without overwhelming adjacent colours. Modern formulations avoid the toxic arsenate compounds, relying instead on cobalt phosphate chemistry, which preserves the pigment’s characteristic softness while improving safety. Highly lightfast and chemically stable, cobalt violet remains a refined choice for artists seeking a nuanced, permanent violet with a poetic, understated presence.

Raman Spectroscopy 532 nm – ElviRa Spectrometer for Art

Raman Spectroscopy 532 nm (ElviRa spectrometer) Pigments-Checker Database (74036 downloads )

Raman Spectroscopy 632 nm – ElviRa Spectrometer for Art

Raman spectroscopy 785 nm

Pigments (powder, no binder)

Raman Spectroscopy 785 nm Pigments (pure, no binder) (76683 downloads )

Pigments with acrylic binder (Pigments Checker)

Raman Spectroscopy 785 nm Pigments-Checker Database (77612 downloads )

Pure pigments (no binder, just powder)

DOWNLOAD Free Raman Database

DOWNLOAD paper: “Pigments Checker version 3.0, a handy set for conservation scientists: A free online Raman spectra database”

Cobalt violet 45800 Raman Spectroscopy Pigments Checker

Raman spectroscopy 830 nm

Pigments (powder, no binder)

Raman Spectroscopy 830 nm Pigments-Checker Database (62616 downloads )

XRF spectroscopy

XRF Spectroscopy Pigments-Checker Database (88895 downloads )

DOWNLOAD previous database from Pigments Checker V.3 DOWNLOAD paper: R. Larsen, N. Coluzzi, A. Cosentino “Free XRF Spectroscopy database of Pigments Checker” Intl Journal of Conservation Science.