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Burgundy
#800020 · click to copy
Warm
HEX
#800020
RGB
128, 0, 32
CMYK
0%, 100%, 75%, 50%
Pigment
PR101, PV23
Lightfastness
Excellent (I)
Moods & Keywords
red
dark
deep
wine
rich
sophisticated
Pigment & Material
PR101, PV23
Synthetic
Historically achieved through overdyeing with madder and woad or indigo.
Origin & History
Named after the Burgundy region of France, famous since the Roman era for its wine production. The colour became associated with luxury, sophistication, and autumn. As a pigment, it is typically achieved by mixing deep reds with violet or blue — there is no single traditional "Burgundy" pigment.
Also Known As
Wine Red
Claret
Bordeaux
Dark Red
Psychology
Sophisticated, sensual, and autumnal. Burgundy is red with restraint — it suggests maturity, luxury, and depth. Associated with wine, velvet, and candlelight. More introspective than scarlet, it invites contemplation rather than action.
In Culture
The colour of fine wine and autumn leaves. Burgundy is associated with harvest festivals across Europe. In fashion, it resurfaces cyclically as the sophisticated alternative to pure red. Harvard and many other universities use burgundy-adjacent colours in their branding. It is the colour of aged leather, antique books, and old roses.
Natural Sources
Historically achieved by over-dyeing with madder (deep red) and indigo (blue), or by fermenting grape skins. The colour takes its name from the Burgundy wine region of France.
Making It Yourself
Mix deep red (cadmium red deep or alizarin crimson) with a small amount of ultramarine blue.
For a warmer burgundy: add burnt sienna instead of blue.
Natural dye: simmer blackberries or elderberries; add iron mordant to deepen toward burgundy.
Wine-based: boil red wine to reduce, use as watercolour wash (not lightfast, but interesting).
For a warmer burgundy: add burnt sienna instead of blue.
Natural dye: simmer blackberries or elderberries; add iron mordant to deepen toward burgundy.
Wine-based: boil red wine to reduce, use as watercolour wash (not lightfast, but interesting).
Art Movements
Romanticism
Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood
Art Nouveau
Gothic Revival
Famous Works
Isabella and the Pot of Basil
William Holman Hunt, 1868
The Lady of Shalott
John William Waterhouse, 1888
Nocturne in Black and Gold
James McNeill Whistler, 1875
Available As
Winsor & Newton — Burgundy (mixed)
Daniel Smith — Perylene Maroon (PR179)
Golden — Quinacridone Burnt Scarlet
Sennelier — Burgundy
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Colour data compiled with AI. Spot an error or have more to add? Leave a Note — ekphra reviews and updates.
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