PG 51 – victoria green

Great lightfastness it is always used with extenders and fillers to make it more workable

Manufacturer/ product code:  Kremer / 44190
Chemical Description:  chromium-based silicate
Color: green
Color Index: PG 51
Date:  –

PG 51, commonly known as Victoria Green, is a synthetic organic pigment belonging to the triarylmethane class. Introduced in the late 19th to early 20th century, it was developed as part of the rapid expansion of coal-tar–derived colorants and is closely related to basic green dyes. Victoria Green is characterized by a bright, yellowish-green hue, moderate opacity, and high tinting strength, making it suitable for printing inks, textiles, and industrial applications.

Chemically, PG 51 is derived from triarylmethane structures, often stabilized as an insoluble pigment to improve durability and allow use in paints, coatings, and plastics. Its color is vivid and intense, but like many early organic pigments, it is sensitive to light, heat, and oxidizing agents. Prolonged exposure to strong light can result in fading or color shifts, often toward a paler green or yellowish tone.

In artistic and conservation contexts, PG 51 is an organic pigment and therefore cannot be detected using elemental techniques such as XRF. Identification relies on molecular methods, including Raman spectroscopy, FTIR, or chromatographic analysis. Its presence in an artwork, print, or decorative object indicates a material from the late 19th century onward and reflects the industrialization of pigment production, where synthetic dyes and pigments provided bright, economical alternatives to natural green colorants, such as malachite or verdigris.