Anthraquinone Scarlet Pigment

Description

Anthraquinone Scarlet (PR168) is a handmade single pigment anthraquinone scarlet red. It produces a rich, warm scarlet with a clear orange leaning undertone and a deeply saturated masstone. Compared to traditional cadmium or naphthol scarlets, this pigment feels more transparent and refined, offering a glowing depth in glazes rather than a flat, opaque block of color.

In use, Anthraquinone Scarlet gives a luminous, transparent red ideal for florals, textiles, sunsets, warm highlights, and expressive passages in portrait and figure work. It has strong tinting strength with a transparent to semi-transparent character, making it excellent for glazing, layered washes, and subtle optical mixing. It mixes beautifully with yellows for vivid oranges and flame colors, with magentas and quinacridones for complex reds and crimsons, and with blues and earth pigments for nuanced warm neutrals and deep, glowing shadow tones that stay clear rather than muddy.

This anthraquinone pigment is finely milled, chemically stable, and compatible with a wide range of binders and mediums. In artist's colors it offers a modern, high performance alternative to more opaque scarlets, functioning both as a primary warm red on contemporary palettes and as a sophisticated glazing color for rich, layered work.

History

Anthraquinone pigments are part of a family of synthetic organic colorants derived from anthracene chemistry that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They were first developed for the dye industry, where their strong chroma and good fastness made them valuable in textiles and industrial finishes. As pigment grade anthraquinones were refined for use in coatings and plastics, some members of this family were adapted for artist paints.

Anthraquinone Scarlet (PR168) represents a warm, orange leaning red within this group, designed to bridge the gap between classical scarlets and more modern high chroma reds. Its balance of transparency, chroma, and relative permanence led to its inclusion in select professional paint ranges, especially in watercolor and acrylic. While less ubiquitous than some other modern reds, it is appreciated by painters who want a glowing, transparent scarlet with a distinctly modern handling and a strong, reliable presence on the palette.

Pigment Information

Pigment Type: Synthetic (Organic) anthraquinone pigment
Source: Organic synthesis of dibromoanthanthrone
Origin: Europe (20th century)
Suitable Mediums: Watercolor, Oil, Tempera, Acrylic, Lime / Fresco, Ceramic and cement applications
Lightfastness: Very good (best in masstone and non-watercolor applications)
Opacity: Transparent to semi-transparent
Other Names: Anthraquinone Scarlet, Anthraquinoid Scarlet (PR168), Transparent Scarlet (in some ranges)
Color Index Code: PR168

Health and Safety

• For art use only. Not for cosmetic, food or children's use.
• Keep out of reach of children and pets. Do not eat, drink or smoke while working.
• Avoid creating or breathing dust. Work in a ventilated area and wear a NIOSH approved dust respirator (P100 or better) when handling dry pigment.
• Wear gloves and eye protection. Wash hands and work surfaces after use, and never rinse pigment into drains.
• Do not spray apply, sand or burn.
• If swallowed or if you feel unwell, contact a poison control center (U.S. 1-800-222-1222) or a doctor.
• Safety Data Sheet available on request.