Pigfolio

PV23 Dioxazine Violet

Carbazole dioxazine.

48 tubes from 23 of 24 paint lines contain PV23. 20 are made from PV23 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
Medium
Opacity
Single-pigment tubes are mostly transparent.

About PV23

History

Dioxazine violet was introduced in the mid-20th century and is the most common strong violet in artists' paint.

In mixes

Extremely strong and nearly black in masstone. Use tiny amounts. It darkens and cools mixes quickly, and some makers rate it lower in pale tints.

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 PV23, by brand

The best single-pigment PV23 tube from each line, ranked: artists' grade first, then lightfastness, then how firmly the pigment listing is confirmed. Ties are listed alphabetically.

  1. Langridge Dioxazine VioletSeries 4 · LF I · Transparent Transparent
  2. Art Spectrum Flinders Blue VioletSeries 3 · LF I · Semi-transparent Semi-transparent
  3. Blockx Dioxazine MauveSeries 3 · LF I · Semi-opaque Semi-opaque
  4. Gamblin Dioxazine PurpleLF I
  5. Grumbacher Dioxazine PurpleSeries 3 · LF I
  6. Old Holland Dioxazine MauveSeries C · LF I
  7. Schmincke Mussini Transparent VioletLF I · Transparent Transparent
  8. W&N Artisan Dioxazine PurpleSeries 1 · LF I · Transparent Transparent
  9. W&N Artists' Winsor Violet (Dioxazine)Series 2 · LF I · Transparent Transparent
  10. W&N Griffin Dioxazine PurpleSeries 1 · LF I · Transparent Transparent
  11. Williamsburg Egyptian VioletSeries 5 · LF I · Semi-transparent Semi-transparent
  12. Lukas 1862 Cobalt Violet (Hue)Series 1 · LF I
  13. Holbein Dioxazine VioletSeries C · LF I · Semi-transparent Semi-transparent
  14. M. Graham Dioxazine PurpleSeries 3 · LF II · Transparent Transparent
  15. Da Vinci Dioxazine PurpleLF not rated · Semi-opaque Semi-opaque
  16. Maimeri Puro Violet LakeLF not rated
  17. Vasari Dioxazine PurpleLF not rated · Transparent Transparent
  18. W&N Winton Dioxazine PurpleSeries 1 · LF I · Transparent Transparent · student grade
  19. Georgian Permanent MauveLF not rated · student grade

Not sold here by: Rembrandt.

Made from PV23 alone

Flinders Blue VioletArt SpectrumPV23Series 3Semi-transparentLF IDioxazine MauveBlockx 212431PV23Series 3Semi-opaqueLF IDioxazine PurpleDa VinciPV23Semi-opaque–Dioxazine PurpleGamblinPV23LF IRadiant VioletGamblinPV23LF IPermanent MauveGeorgian D111014413PV23–Dioxazine PurpleGrumbacher P061PV23Series 3LF IDioxazine VioletHolbein H338PV23Series CVerifySemi-transparentLF IDioxazine VioletLangridgePV23Series 4TransparentLF ICobalt Violet (Hue)Lukas 1862 0130PV23Series 1HueLF IDioxazine PurpleM. Graham 100PV23Series 3TransparentLF IIViolet LakeMaimeri Puro 436PV23–Transparent VioletSchmincke Mussini 10473PV23TransparentLF IDioxazine MauveOld Holland C202PV23Series CLF IDioxazine PurpleVasariPV23Transparent–Egyptian VioletWilliamsburg 6000805PV23Series 5Semi-transparentLF IDioxazine PurpleW&N Winton 229PV23Series 1TransparentLF IWinsor Violet (Dioxazine)W&N Artists' 733PV23Series 2TransparentLF IDioxazine PurpleW&N Artisan 229PV23Series 1TransparentLF IDioxazine PurpleW&N Griffin 229PV23Series 1TransparentLF I

PV23 with white added

LilacArt SpectrumPW6PV23Series 2OpaqueLF IProvence Violet BluishWilliamsburg 6000754PV23PW4PW6Series 4–

Mixtures that contain PV23

Flinders Blue Violet DarkArt SpectrumPV23PBk11Series 3Semi-transparentLF IPermanent MagentaArt SpectrumPV19PV23Series 3TransparentLF IPermanent MauveArt SpectrumPV23PB15:3Series 2TransparentLF ISpectrum VioletArt SpectrumPW4PR122PV23Series 1TransparentLF ITasman BlueArt SpectrumPB15:3PV23PW6Series 3OpaqueLF IBlue VioletCobra 548PW7PB29PV23OpaqueLF IPermanent Blue VioletCobra 568PV23PR122Semi-transparentLF IPermanent Red VioletCobra 567PV23PR122Semi-transparentLF IVioletCobra 536PW7PR122PV23OpaqueLF ICobalt Violet HueGeorgian D111014406PV23PR122Hue–Violet GreyGeorgian D111014442PB29PW6PV23–MauveLukas 1862 0129PV23PV19Series 1LF IAmethystMichael Harding 309PB29PR122PV23Series 3TransparentLF IOld Holland Blue DeepOld Holland B217PB29PG7PV23Series BLF IOld Holland Blue GreyOld Holland B259PB29PW4PW6PV23Series BLF IOld Holland Blue VioletOld Holland C205PB15PV23Series CLF IOld Holland Bright VioletOld Holland C193PV19PV23Series CLF IOld Holland Violet-GreyOld Holland B208PW4PW6PV23PB29PG18Series BLF IDeep RoseArt Creation 362PV19PV23Semi-opaqueLF IVioletArt Creation 536PV23PV19Semi-opaqueLF IIPermanent Red VioletVan Gogh 567PV23PR122Series 2Semi-transparentLF IVioletVan Gogh 536PV23PV19Series 1Semi-transparentLF IIPayne's Gray (Violet)Williamsburg 6001063PBr7PV23PB29Series 2Semi-opaqueLF IMagentaW&N Artists' 380PV23PR122Series 2TransparentLF IMauve Blue ShadeW&N Artists' 400PV19PV23PB15Series 1TransparentLF IPurple LakeW&N Artists' 544PV23PBr25Series 1TransparentLF I

Brands: Art Spectrum, Blockx, Cobra, Da Vinci, Gamblin, Georgian, Grumbacher, Holbein, Langridge, Lukas 1862, M. Graham, Michael Harding, Maimeri Puro, Schmincke Mussini, Old Holland, Art Creation, Vasari, Van Gogh, Williamsburg, W&N Winton, W&N Artists', W&N Artisan, W&N Griffin.