Pigfolio

PV14 Cobalt Violet

Cobalt phosphate.

18 tubes from 12 of 24 paint lines contain PV14. 17 are made from PV14 alone, which is the closest match when you're switching brands.

Toxicity
Handle with care Contains cobalt. Avoid breathing in the dust or getting the paint in your mouth, and don't sand or spray it.
Drying
Fast Cobalt speeds drying.

About PV14

History

Cobalt violet came into use in the 19th century. Today's cobalt violet is cobalt phosphate; some older versions were made with arsenic.

In mixes

Weak, clean and fairly transparent, giving delicate violet tints. Very expensive for what it does in mixtures.

Genuine or hue?

Cobalt pigments are costly, mix to clean, slightly cool tints and shouldn't be breathed in as dust. Hues cost much less and usually tint more strongly, but their mixes rarely look quite the same.

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 PV14, by brand

The best single-pigment PV14 tube from each line, ranked: artists' grade first, then lightfastness, then how firmly the pigment listing is confirmed. Ties are listed alphabetically.

  1. Art Spectrum Cobalt VioletSeries 5 · LF I · Transparent Transparent
  2. Blockx Cobalt Violet DeepSeries 7 · LF I · Semi-opaque Semi-opaque
  3. Gamblin Cobalt VioletLF I
  4. Michael Harding Cobalt Violet LightSeries 6 · LF I · Semi-opaque Semi-opaque
  5. Old Holland Cobalt Violet DarkSeries F · LF I
  6. Rembrandt Cobalt VioletSeries 5 · LF I · Semi-transparent Semi-transparent
  7. W&N Artists' Cobalt VioletSeries 5 · LF I · Semi-transparent Semi-transparent
  8. Williamsburg Cobalt Violet DeepSeries 8 · LF I · Semi-transparent Semi-transparent
  9. Holbein Cobalt Violet DeepSeries H · LF I · Semi-transparent Semi-transparent
  10. Maimeri Puro Cobalt Violet LightLF not rated
  11. Vasari Cobalt Violet DeepLF not rated · Semi-opaque Semi-opaque

Not sold here by: M. Graham, Schmincke Mussini, W&N Winton, Georgian, Da Vinci, Van Gogh, Cobra, Art Creation, Lukas 1862, W&N Griffin, Langridge, W&N Artisan.

Made from PV14 alone

Cobalt VioletArt SpectrumPV14Series 5TransparentLF ICobalt Violet DarkArt SpectrumPV14Series 5TransparentLF ICobalt VioletBlockx 212931PV14Series 7TransparentLF ICobalt Violet DeepBlockx 212933PV14Series 7Semi-opaqueLF ICobalt VioletGamblinPV14LF ICobalt Violet DeepHolbein H331PV14Series HVerifySemi-transparentLF ICobalt Violet DarkMichael Harding 602PV14Series 6Semi-opaqueLF ICobalt Violet LightMichael Harding 601PV14Series 6Semi-opaqueLF ICobalt Violet DeepMaimeri Puro 452PV14–Cobalt Violet LightMaimeri Puro 451PV14–Cobalt Violet DarkOld Holland F32PV14Series FLF ICobalt Violet LightOld Holland E31PV14Series ELF ICobalt VioletRembrandt 539PV14Series 5Semi-transparentLF ICobalt Violet DeepVasariPV14Semi-opaque–Cobalt Violet PaleVasariPV14Transparent–Cobalt Violet DeepWilliamsburg 6000748PV14Series 8Semi-transparentLF ICobalt VioletW&N Artists' 192PV14Series 5Semi-transparentLF I

Mixtures that contain PV14

Cobalt VioletGrumbacher P053PV14PV16Series 4LF I

Brands: Art Spectrum, Blockx, Gamblin, Grumbacher, Holbein, Michael Harding, Maimeri Puro, Old Holland, Rembrandt, Vasari, Williamsburg, W&N Artists'.