Winsor & Newton Artists Oil Color is unmatched for its purity, quality and reliability - a success which is reflected in its world-wide reputation amongst professional artists. Every Winsor & Newton Artists Oil Color is individually formulated to enhance each pigments natural characteristics and ensure stability of color. By exercising maximum quality control throughout all stages of manufacture, selecting the most suitable drying oils and method of pigment dispersion, the unique individual properties of each color are preserved. Combined with over 180 years of manufacturing and quality control expertise, the formulation of Artists Oil Color ensures the best raw materials are made into the Worlds Finest Colors. Purple Madder is a deep rich purple pigment. It is a transparent oil color. Originally Madder was a lake pigment extracted from the Madder plant. It has been used as a pigment since 7th c BC.