madder lake

noun

1. a strong purple-red color.

2. a pigment of this color formerly obtained from the madder root, characterized chiefly by lack of permanence.

Word History and Origins

Origin of madder lake¹

First recorded in 1815–25

Example Sentences

He identified pigments that had originally covered the sculpture: Egyptian blue mixed into pinkish skin tones and the whites of the eyes; yellow and red ochre in the hair; rose-colored madder lake for the lips.

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Indian yellow merging through tints of gamboge, yellow, and brown ochre to sombre brown; madder lake, brown madder, Indian red to Roman sepia; greys, bright and dull greens indefinable, and utterly indescribable, formed a mélange of colour which defied description whether by brush or pen.

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Plate 11.—The sky, indigo and madder lake: the clouds varied with Nos.

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The pigment may be dispensed with in favour of madder lake and madder brown, whose combinations serve for every purpose to which it can be applied, and are stable.

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The red varieties range from rich crimson to a delicate rose, and are known as Madder Carmine, Field's Carmine, Pink Madder, Rose Madder, Madder Lake, and Liquid Rubiate or Liquid Madder Lake.

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