Persian red
A deep reddish orange pigment once made from earths near the Persian Gulf
Persian red is a strong reddish orange pigment originally made from earths containing iron, alumina, and magnesia from the Persian Gulf region. Known as artificial vermillion, it first appeared as a colour name in English in 1895 and has been used in architecture and art.
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- Persian red is a reddish orange earth pigment from the Persian Gulf.
- It is also known as artificial vermillion.
- First recorded as a colour name in English in 1895.
- Used in the murals of Trinity Church, Boston.
What colour is Persian red?
Persian red is a vivid reddish orange pigment, notable for its earthy depth and warmth. It stands out from other reds by its blend of iron, alumina, and magnesia, which gives it a slightly orange undertone. The colour is strong and striking, with a look that recalls the rich soils of the Persian Gulf region.
Where does Persian red come from?
The name Persian red refers to its origin in earths from the Persian Gulf area. The pigment is also called artificial vermillion, though it is made from different minerals. The term first appeared in English in 1895. Persian red is part of a group of colours linked to Persia, including Persian pink, rose, orange, blue, and green.
How is Persian red made?
Persian red pigment is created from a silicate of iron and alumina, with magnesia. These minerals are found in earths from the Persian Gulf region. The combination of these elements produces the distinctive reddish orange shade. It is classified as an earth pigment, meaning it is made from naturally occurring minerals.
Where Persian red is used
Persian red has been used in art and architecture. Notably, architect Henry Hobson Richardson chose it as the background colour for murals by John LaFarge in Trinity Church, Boston. Its strong hue makes it suitable for decorative painting and interior design.
Red around the world
What the red family means from country to country.
The 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 RosasThe flag is red, white and red. Legend says Duke Leopold V's white tunic was soaked in blood at the siege of Acre, all but the band under his belt.
Politics and protestCourageSource: Flag of AustriaRed ochre is used in Aboriginal rock art and ceremony, and is traded over long distances. In the Aboriginal flag the red half stands for the earth and for that ochre.
Sacred and holyNature and renewalAweSource: Australian Aboriginal flagShades and relatives of Persian red
Persian red is related to other colours named after Persia, such as Persian pink, rose, orange, blue, and green. It is sometimes confused with vermillion, but Persian red is made from different minerals and has a more orange tone.
Colours that go with Persian red
Harmonies are worked out from the value #CC3333. Contrast ratios follow the WCAG 2 formula.
Questions people ask about Persian red
What colour is Persian red?
Persian red is a deep reddish orange, made from earths containing iron, alumina, and magnesia.
Where does the name Persian red come from?
The name refers to earth pigments from the Persian Gulf region, known for their distinctive colour.
What is Persian red made of?
It is made from a silicate of iron and alumina, with magnesia, all minerals found in the earth.
Where has Persian red been used?
It was used as the background for murals in Trinity Church, Boston, and in other art and architecture.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Persian red", 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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