Heritage Community Education Articles

Purple: an enchanting pigment reserved for royals and rulers

Purple is captivating and enchanting. Glamourous and mystical. Deep purple brings to mind magic and royalty. Lilac often indicative of springtime and youth, and ultraviolet connected to psychedelia. For centuries, the colour’s charm and power has spanned both high society and popular culture. But what is it about purple that makes it so revered? We delve into the mesmerising influence of purple, from the Tyrian Purple cloaks of royals and rulers to the ‘violettomania’ that fascinated the Impressionists.