Old Holland Oil Color Alizarin Crimson Lake Extra 40 ml tube

If you're familiar with the very top artist paint manufacturers in the world, you already know that Old Holland is right up there with a handful of others as the very best. They are one of the oldest, if not THE oldest, oil color manufacturers...they've been in business in the Netherlands since the 1600s (how cool is that?). Most of the production is still done in the traditional manner. They still use windmills to grind their pigments on stone rather than metal, as well as for producing linseed oil. Don't know about you, but I love that whole idea of windmills...I feel like I'm back in time painting with the old Dutch Masters. They still pack their oil colors in lead tubes instead of aluminum. Ahh, history...As far as their Alizarin Crimson Extra color is concerned, it is quite nice. Since the true Alizarin Crimson pigment is not considered lightfast (permanent), most paint makers produce an alternative pigment mix which is supposed to recreate the color of the true alizarin crimson while offering more permanence. When doing so, manufacturers add the word "extra" or "hue" with their tubes of Alizarin Crimson. This "extra" version of Old Holland's is a blend of Anthraquinone Red, Quinacridone Violet, and VanDyke Brown. It VERY closely approximates the color and tinting strength/ability of the true Alizarin Crimson without disappearing on you sometime down the road.

excellent