Ultramarinas

Ultramarinas are blue pigments used in art and industry. Historically derived from lapis lazuli, ultramarine pigment was prized for its vivid, glowing blue and its relative permanence. The name ultramarine comes from Latin ultramarinus, “beyond the sea,” a reference to the long trade route by which the stone reached Europe from Afghanistan. In Renaissance and early modern painting it was among the most expensive pigments, often reserved for highlights and important figures.

With the discovery of a synthetic ultramarine in 1828 by Jean-Baptiste Guimet, and its subsequent commercial development, the pigment became affordable and widely used. The synthetic form is a sodium aluminum sulfosilicate that can be produced in deep blue and related shades; natural lapis lazuli pigment continues to be used in certain premium materials due to its characteristic appearance and provenance.

Ultramarines cover a range from deep ultramarine to lighter, slightly purplish blues. They are valued for strong color and good lightfastness, as well as stability to heat and chemical exposure in many media. Common applications include oil and acrylic paints, watercolors, and printing inks; plastics and cosmetics also employ ultramarine pigments under regulated standards.

Safety and regulation center on purity and dust control. Natural lapis lazuli pigments may contain trace impurities, while synthetic ultramarine is generally considered inert. Use in consumables or cosmetics is subject to relevant safety guidelines in different jurisdictions.