PR83 Alizarin Crimson
Dihydroxyanthraquinone lake. Also listed as PR83:1.
20 tubes from 14 of 24 paint lines contain PR83. 15 are made from PR83 alone, which is the closest match when you're switching brands.
- Toxicity
- No toxic metal Not one of the toxic-metal pigments. As with any paint, keep it out of your mouth and don't sand or spray it.
- Drying
- Slow
- Opacity
- Single-pigment tubes are mostly transparent.
About PR83
History
Alizarin was the first natural dye to be made synthetically, in 1868, replacing natural madder. It was the standard crimson for a century.
In mixes
A cool, transparent, deep crimson that mixes beautiful violets and darks. It fades in thin glazes and pale tints, which is why many lightfast 'permanent alizarin' colors now exist.
Genuine or hue?
Genuine alizarin fades in thin glazes and pale tints. Most alizarin hues are more lightfast; the genuine is mostly kept for tradition.
Drying speed is typical for linseed oil; tubes ground in safflower or poppy oil, or with driers added, will differ. These are general notes on the pigment, not on any one brand.
Purest PR83, by brand
The best single-pigment PR83 tube from each line, ranked: artists' grade first, then lightfastness, then how firmly the pigment listing is confirmed. Ties are listed alphabetically.
- Holbein Alizarin CrimsonSeries B · LF I · Transparent
- Schmincke Mussini Alizarin Madder LakeLF II · Transparent
- Lukas 1862 Alizarin CrimsonSeries 2 · LF II
- Art Spectrum Alizarin CrimsonSeries 4 · LF III · Transparent
- Gamblin Alizarin CrimsonLF III
- Grumbacher Alizarin CrimsonSeries 3 · LF III · Semi-transparent
- M. Graham Alizarin CrimsonSeries 2 · LF III · Transparent
- Michael Harding Alizarin CrimsonSeries 3 · LF III · Transparent
- W&N Artists' Alizarin CrimsonSeries 2 · LF III · Transparent
- Old Holland Madder (Crimson) Lake Deep ExtraSeries C · LF III · Transparent
- Vasari Alizarin CrimsonLF not rated · Transparent
- Van Gogh Alizarin CrimsonSeries 1 · LF II · Transparent · student grade
- Art Creation CarmineLF II · Semi-opaque · student grade
Not sold here by: Rembrandt, W&N Winton, Georgian, Da Vinci, Cobra, W&N Griffin, Langridge, Blockx, Maimeri Puro, W&N Artisan.
Made from PR83 alone
Mixtures that contain PR83
Brands: Art Spectrum, Gamblin, Grumbacher, Holbein, Lukas 1862, M. Graham, Michael Harding, Schmincke Mussini, Old Holland, Art Creation, Vasari, Van Gogh, Williamsburg, W&N Artists'.