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.

From The New Yorker

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.

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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.

From Project Gutenberg

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.

From Project Gutenberg