Ultramarine Violet: Properties and Uses in Painting - Cultural Heritage Science Open Source

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PV 15 – ultramarine 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.

Used successfully in watercolors.

Manufacturer/ product code: Kremer / 42605
Chemical Description: sodium aluminum sulfosilicate
Color: violet
Color Index: PV 15
Date: from 1878

PV 15 – Ultramarine Violet is an inorganic pigment belonging to the ultramarine family, a group of aluminosilicate-based pigments that incorporate sulfur species as the chromophore. Unlike traditional ultramarine blue, PV 15 is produced through controlled modifications of the sulfur radical composition within the aluminosilicate lattice, resulting in a violet to purple hue with moderate chroma. Its color is stable, soft, and slightly muted compared to more intense synthetic organic violets, offering a mineral-like aesthetic.

Chemically, PV 15 shares the same sodium aluminosilicate framework as other ultramarines, which provides excellent thermal and light stability. It is highly resistant to heat and alkalis but can be sensitive to acids, which may destroy the sulfur chromophores and alter the color. These properties make PV 15 suitable for artistic media such as oil, acrylic, and watercolor, as well as for decorative coatings, ceramics, and plastics.

In practical applications, Ultramarine Violet exhibits moderate opacity and tinting strength. It blends harmoniously with other ultramarines, earth pigments, and whites to produce subtle violet, mauve, and grayish tones. Its muted character and inorganic stability make it valuable in formulations where longevity and controlled chromatic intensity are prioritized over maximum brilliance.