Keiran RowellNov 5

New post! On the #chemistry of #purple, my favourite colour 💜

https://keiran-rowell.github.io/dyes/2025-11-05-aniline-and-the-german-chemical-industry/

This tale winds its way past sea snails and togas 🏛️, coal tar and dream snakes 🐍, industrial conglomerates and chemical theory ⌬ ⟷ ⏣, to flow back in recirculation to fundamental light-sensitive cells themselves 👁️💡🦠

Spend time with this hue right at the edge of our perception 🎨

#benzene #Kekulé #dyes #BASF #organic #porphyrin #GravitysRainbow #Pynchon #Perkin #rhodopsin #HistoryofScience #orbitals #art

From Muck to Mauve: the creation of modern dyes from coal tar

Content notice: this post discusses the early dye companies of industrialised pre-WWI Germany that were at one point put to horrific wartime use. World War II is alluded to in a literary work that was famously denied a Pulitzer prize in part because of its confronting content.

Keiran Rowell
World Concert HallJun 27, 2025
Right now, chamber music from #Bantry: a #Perkin's world premiere #Lyatoshynsky and #Beethoven https://www.worldconcerthall.com/en/schedule/chamber_music_from_bantry_a_perkins_world_premiere_lyatoshynsky_and_beethoven/88007/ #wch
Chamber music from Bantry: a Perkin's world premiere, Lyatoshynsky and Beethoven - Schedule // - www.worldconcerthall.com

West Cork Chamber Music Festival. Works and performers: Sam PERKIN: 'A Gathering, world premiere/ LYATOSHYNSKY: String Quartet No.2 in A major. Tchalik Quartet. BEETHOVEN: String Quartet in E minor Op. 59/2. Ardeo Quartet. Live....

World Concert HallJun 27, 2025
In 20 minutes, chamber music from #Bantry: a #Perkin's world premiere #Lyatoshynsky and #Beethoven https://www.worldconcerthall.com/en/schedule/chamber_music_from_bantry_a_perkins_world_premiere_lyatoshynsky_and_beethoven/88007/ #wch
Chamber music from Bantry: a Perkin's world premiere, Lyatoshynsky and Beethoven - Schedule // - www.worldconcerthall.com

West Cork Chamber Music Festival. Works and performers: Sam PERKIN: 'A Gathering, world premiere/ LYATOSHYNSKY: String Quartet No.2 in A major. Tchalik Quartet. BEETHOVEN: String Quartet in E minor Op. 59/2. Ardeo Quartet. Live....

World Concert HallJun 27, 2025
Today, chamber music from #Bantry: a #Perkin's world premiere #Lyatoshynsky and #Beethoven https://www.worldconcerthall.com/en/schedule/chamber_music_from_bantry_a_perkins_world_premiere_lyatoshynsky_and_beethoven/88007/ #wch
Chamber music from Bantry: a Perkin's world premiere, Lyatoshynsky and Beethoven - Schedule // - www.worldconcerthall.com

West Cork Chamber Music Festival. Works and performers: Sam PERKIN: 'A Gathering, world premiere/ LYATOSHYNSKY: String Quartet No.2 in A major. Tchalik Quartet. BEETHOVEN: String Quartet in E minor Op. 59/2. Ardeo Quartet. Live....

tomsharpJan 24, 2024
In 1856, William Henry Perkin accidentally discovered the first synthetic dye and named it mauveine. He was trying to synthesize quinine from coal-tar distillates. #Poetry #Science #History #Chemistry #Mauveine #Perkin (https://sharpgiving.com/thebookofscience/items/p1856m.html)
1856: Mauve - The book of science

In 1856, William Henry Perkin accidentally discovered the first synthetic dye and named it mauveine. He was trying to synthesize quinine from coal-tar distillates.

World Concert HallMay 22, 2023
Right now, the Sitkovetsky Trio plays #Perkin #Beethoven and #Mendelssohn in #London https://buff.ly/3MhoVwc #wch
The Sitkovetsky Trio plays Perkin, Beethoven and Mendelssohn in London - Schedule // - www.worldconcerthall.com

The Sitkovetsky Trio plays: Sam PERKIN: Freakshow. BEETHOVEN: Allegretto in B flat, WoO 39. MENDELSSOHN: Piano Trio No 2 in C minor, Op 66. Live....

World Concert HallMay 22, 2023
In 20 minutes, the Sitkovetsky Trio plays #Perkin #Beethoven and #Mendelssohn in #London https://buff.ly/3MhoVwc #wch
The Sitkovetsky Trio plays Perkin, Beethoven and Mendelssohn in London - Schedule // - www.worldconcerthall.com

The Sitkovetsky Trio plays: Sam PERKIN: Freakshow. BEETHOVEN: Allegretto in B flat, WoO 39. MENDELSSOHN: Piano Trio No 2 in C minor, Op 66. Live....

World Concert HallMay 22, 2023
Today, the Sitkovetsky Trio plays #Perkin #Beethoven and #Mendelssohn in #London https://www.worldconcerthall.com/en/schedule/the_sitkovetsky_trio_plays_perkin_beethoven_and_mendelssohn_in_london/75809/ #wch
The Sitkovetsky Trio plays Perkin, Beethoven and Mendelssohn in London - Schedule // - www.worldconcerthall.com

The Sitkovetsky Trio plays: Sam PERKIN: Freakshow. BEETHOVEN: Allegretto in B flat, WoO 39. MENDELSSOHN: Piano Trio No 2 in C minor, Op 66. Live....

World Concert HallDec 28, 2022
Right now, the Sitkovetsky Trio plays #Perkin #Ravel #Beethoven and #Mendelssohn in #Helsinki https://pst.cr/vsi9q #wch
The Sitkovetsky Trio plays Perkin, Ravel, Beethoven and Mendelssohn in Helsinki - Schedule // - www.worldconcerthall.com

The Sitkovetsky Trio plays: Sam PERKIN: Freakshow. RAVEL: Piano Trio in A minor. BEETHOVEN: Allegretto in B flat major. MENDELSSOHN: Piano Trio No. 2 in C minor. BEETHOVEN: Allegretto ma non troppo from Piano Trio in E-flat major, Op. 70 no. 2. Recor...

World Concert HallDec 28, 2022
In 20 minutes, the Sitkovetsky Trio plays #Perkin #Ravel #Beethoven and #Mendelssohn in #Helsinki https://pst.cr/vsi9q #wch
The Sitkovetsky Trio plays Perkin, Ravel, Beethoven and Mendelssohn in Helsinki - Schedule // - www.worldconcerthall.com

The Sitkovetsky Trio plays: Sam PERKIN: Freakshow. RAVEL: Piano Trio in A minor. BEETHOVEN: Allegretto in B flat major. MENDELSSOHN: Piano Trio No. 2 in C minor. BEETHOVEN: Allegretto ma non troppo from Piano Trio in E-flat major, Op. 70 no. 2. Recor...