Old Holland Classic Oil Color - Manganese Blue Deep, 125 ml tube

Pigment Information

This color contains the following pigments:

PV16-Manganese Violet

PB33-Manganese Blue

Pigment Name

PV16-Manganese Violet

Pigment Type

inorganic

Chemical Name

manganese ammonium pyrophosphate

Chemical Formula

(NH4)2Mn2(P2O7)2 - Mn3(PO4)2 * 3H2O or H4O7P2H3NMn

Properties

Manganese Violet is a semi-transparent, bluish-violet pigment with a discrete opacity and low tinting strength. It is the reddest of the violets, and it covers and dries well in oil and tempera. It also performs well in pastel, encaustic, and watercolor. Manganese Violet is not well suited for fresco or acrylic painting. There can be significant differences in color across brands. It shares similar properties with bluish shades of Cobalt Violet.

Permanence

Manganese Violet has excellent permanence and lightfastness, and it is one of the most lightfast, balanced violets in watercolor form.

Toxicity

Manganese Violet is highly toxic if inhaled and moderately toxic if ingested.

History

This pigment was developed in 1868 by E. Leykauf to replace the more expensive Cobalt Violet. It was not offered as an artists’ pigment until 1890.

Pigment Name

PB33-Manganese Blue

Pigment Type

inorganic

Chemical Name

barium manganate + barium sulfate

Chemical Formula

BaMnO4 + BaSO4

Properties

Manganese Blue is a brilliant, clear, semi-opaque to transparent blue pigment with a greenish undertone. Its saturation and texture varies across manufacturers.

Permanence

Manganese Blue has excellent lightfastness in watercolor form.

Toxicity

Manganese Blue can be highly toxic if inhaled or ingested, causing nervous system disorder.

History

Manganese compounds have been in use as pigments for more than 17,000 years. The Egyptians and Romans commonly used them in glass-making. The synthetic variation was officially patented in 1935, but neither the original nor the synthetic is commonly produced today, as Manganese Blue has been replaced on the artist’s palette by more intense blues. Most brands offer a Manganese Blue made from Phthalocyanine Blue. Appropriate substitutes in watercolor form are the rare Peacock Blue, Phthalocyanine Blue (Green), or Phthalocyanine Blue lightened by Zinc White.