Lithol red
Description
[BASF] A trademark for a series of bright red, metallic salts of a synthetic Azo dye. First patented in 1899 by Paul Julius (BASF), Lithol reds are made by combining Tobias acid (2-naphthylamine-1-sulfonic acid) and beta-naphthol. Variations in colors are obtained by forming the salts with Sodium, Barium, Calcium, and Strontium cations. Lithol reds are inexpensive and widely used in printing inks, crayons, enamels, stationery, and industrial paints. They are also used as a colorants in some plastics. Lithol reds are not lightfast in sunlight and have only been used in student grade artists paints.
- Na salt: yellowish red, PR 49, CI 15630, water soluble
- Ba salt: bluish pink, PR 49:1, CAS 1248-18-6
- Ca salt: bright red, PR 49:2, CAS 1103-38-4
- Sr salt: purplish red, PR 49:3, CAS 1103-39-5
Synonyms and Related Terms
Lithol toner; Pigment Red 49; CI 15630; 1-sulfo-beta-naphthalene-azo-beta-naphthol; Harrison Red
Comparisons
| Pigment number | Manufacture | Pigment name | Manufacture CI number | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PR49:1 | Magruder | barium lithol red | rl1204-dc | |
| PR49:2 | Magruder | calcium lithol red | rl1082-dc | |
| PR49:2 | Magruder | calcium lithol red y_s | rl1348-dc | |
| PR49:1 | Sun | barium lithol red | 210-2400 | |
| PR49:2 | Sun | calcium lithol red | 211-4620 | |
| PR49:2 | Sun | calcium lithol maroon | 211-4980 |
Other Properties
Poor lightfastness
| Composition | C20H14N2O4S |
|---|
Hazards and Safety
May cause allergic reactions. May be contaminated with cancer causing chemicals.
Additional Information
º H. A. L. Standeven, "The History and Manufacture of Lithol Red, A Pigment Used by Mark Rothko in his Seagram and Harvard Murals of the 1950s and 1960s" Tate Papers, Issue 10, 2008. Link
º B.Berrie, S.Q.Lomax, "Azo Pigments: Their History, Synthesis, Properties and Use in Artists' Materials" in Studies in the History of Art, No.57, National Gallery of Art, Washington DC, 1997.
Sources Checked for Data in Record
- R. J. Gettens, G.L. Stout, Painting Materials, A Short Encyclopaedia, Dover Publications, New York, 1966
- Ralph Mayer, A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques, Harper and Row Publishers, New York, 1969 (also 1945 printing)
- Art and Architecture Thesaurus Online, http://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabulary/aat/, J. Paul Getty Trust, Los Angeles, 2000
- B. Berrie, S.Q. Lomax, 'Azo Pigments: Their History, Synthesis, Properties and Use in Artists' Materials', Studies in the History of Art , National Gallery of Art, Washington DC, No. 57, 1997
- Thomas Gregory, The Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Reinhold Publishing, New York, 3rd ed., 1942
- Michael McCann, Artist Beware, Watson-Guptill Publications, New York City, 1979