Alizarin crimson
A deep red with blue undertones, once made from madder roots
Alizarin crimson is a deep, blue-tinged red named for the alizarin dye from the madder plant. First used as a dye and later as a pigment, it became popular for its ability to mix rich purples and browns and for its permanence in art. Synthetic versions made it widely available.
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- Named after the alizarin dye from madder roots
- Used in ancient Egypt, Persia, and Pompeii
- Synthetic pigment created in 1869
- Favoured by artists for mixing purples and browns
- Bob Ross often used it on The Joy of Painting
What colour is Alizarin crimson?
Alizarin crimson is a strong, deep red with a blue undertone, making it cooler than most reds. It stands out for its ability to mix into a wide range of purples and browns, and its clarity and depth have made it a favourite among artists. The colour is vivid and intense, often described as a classic artist's red.
Where does Alizarin crimson come from?
The name comes from alizarin, a dye first extracted from the madder plant. Ancient cultures, including those in Egypt and Persia, used madder to dye cloth. By the seventh century BC, the dye was made into a pigment called madder lake. The synthetic pigment, alizarin crimson, was created in 1869 by German chemists, making the colour more affordable and consistent.
How is Alizarin crimson made?
Originally, alizarin crimson was made by extracting alizarin dye from madder roots, then fixing it to a base to create a lake pigment. In the 19th century, chemists isolated alizarin and purpurin from madder. The synthetic pigment is produced from anthraquinone, often using zinc in the process, which ensures better permanence and colour consistency.
Where Alizarin crimson is used
Alizarin crimson was used to dye textiles in ancient times, with evidence found in Egypt, Persia, and Pompeii. As a pigment, it became popular with artists for its mixing qualities and permanence. Its synthetic version is still widely used in painting, and it was a favourite of Bob Ross on his television show.
Red around the world
What the red family means from country to country.
The ancient Egyptians called the desert deshret, the red land. Red was the colour of the god Set, of chaos and of danger, and scribes wrote unlucky words in red ink.
Danger and warningFearSource: RedThe flag is red, white and black. Red recalls the struggle before the 1952 revolution, white the revolution itself, which was nearly bloodless, and black the end of oppression.
Politics and protestPrideSource: Flag of EgyptThe flag uses the four Pan-Arab colours: a red bar at the hoist with green, white and black bands. It was designed by a young Emirati, Abdullah Al Maainah, in 1971.
Politics and protestPrideSource: Flag of the United Arab EmiratesThe flag is a black double-headed eagle on red, the banner of the fifteenth-century hero Skanderbeg. Fans chant Kuq e Zi, red and black.
Politics and protestPrideSource: Flag of AlbaniaArmenian scribes painted manuscripts with vordan karmir, a crimson dye made from an insect that lives on the roots of grasses in the Ararat plain.
Sacred and holySource: Armenian cochinealUnder Juan Manuel de Rosas in the 1830s and 1840s, everyone had to wear a scarlet ribbon to show loyalty to his Federalist party. His enemies, the Unitarians, were tied to sky blue.
Politics and protestFearSource: Juan Manuel de RosasShades and relatives of Alizarin crimson
Alizarin crimson is related to other madder-based reds, such as madder lake and alizarin red. It is sometimes confused with other deep reds like crimson, but its blue undertone and mixing properties set it apart. Synthetic versions are more lightfast than the original natural pigment.
Colours that go with Alizarin crimson
Harmonies are worked out from the value #E32636. Contrast ratios follow the WCAG 2 formula.
Questions people ask about Alizarin crimson
What colour is alizarin crimson?
Alizarin crimson is a deep red with a blue undertone, making it cooler than most reds and ideal for mixing purples and browns.
Where does the name alizarin crimson come from?
The name comes from alizarin, a dye originally extracted from the madder plant, which was used for dyeing and later as a pigment.
How was alizarin crimson first made?
It was first made by extracting dye from madder roots and fixing it to a base to make a lake pigment. The synthetic version was created in 1869 from anthraquinone.
What is alizarin crimson used for?
It has been used to dye textiles since ancient times and is now a popular pigment in painting, especially for its mixing qualities.
Was alizarin crimson used by famous artists?
Yes, it became a favourite pigment for many artists, including Bob Ross, who used it on his television show.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Alizarin crimson (color)", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Rang rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. The swatch is an approximation: named colours are not fixed standards, and every screen shows them a little differently. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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