manganese violet

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Manganese violet

Manganese violet was not used much by artists because of its dull tone and poor hiding power. It was made in 1868 and Winsor and Newton commercialized it from 1890.

Manufacturer / product code: Kremer / 45350
Chemical description: manganese ammonium pyrophosphate
Color: violet
Color Index: PV14
More info: Colourlex, Kremer PDF

Manganese violet is a synthetic purple pigment that emerged in the mid-19th century, marking a significant advancement in the palette available to artists. Before its introduction, painters relied primarily on costly natural pigments such as cobalt violets or on organic dyes that lacked stability. Patented in the 1860s, manganese violet is chemically a manganese ammonium pyrophosphate and offered, for the first time, an affordable, lightfast, and non-toxic violet suitable for a wide range of artistic applications.

Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, manganese violet became an important part of the evolving modern palette. While not as intense as some other purples, its gentle, slightly reddish-violet tone made it ideal for mixing and glazing. It was used by painters working in oil, watercolor, and later acrylics, appreciated for its smooth handling, good opacity, and stability under normal conditions. Its reliability made it especially popular among illustrators and artists who required consistent performance.

In contrast to the delicate and often fugitive organic violets of earlier centuries, manganese violet proved remarkably durable, resisting discoloration over time. This made it a valuable pigment for mural work, decorative painting, and manufactured artists’ materials. Although it never reached the iconic status of ultramarine or cobalt pigments, its introduction significantly expanded the chromatic possibilities available to artists interested in purples, mauves, and subtle shadow mixtures.

Today, manganese violet remains a standard pigment in modern paint formulations. Its historical role bridges the gap between the limited mineral violets of the past and the broad spectrum of synthetic colors available today, representing a key moment in the technological and aesthetic evolution of artists’ materials.

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