A colour somewhere between red and blue, it is one of the oldest colour pigments used by man, found in prehistoric cave art as a mix with earth colours.
Violet has been extracted from different minerals, vegetals and animal: manganese, hematite, berries, indigo, and most regally from molluscs (see tyrian purple). A brilliant and expensive colour, it was historically associated with secular and ecclesiastical power.
In its pure form it is too strong used on its own but very effective, and much more pleasing to use than black, for toning down most colours–especially opposite/complementary colours–creating a softer, natural dusky-ness.