ultramarin

Ultramarine, or ultramarine blue, is a deep blue pigment historically obtained from the mineral lazurite, the principal component of lapis lazuli. The name derives from Latin ultramarinus, meaning beyond the sea, a reference to lapis lazuli coming from Afghanistan and imported to Europe by sea routes. For centuries it was among the most expensive pigments and was reserved for important works.

Natural ultramarine is a complex aluminosilicate containing sulfur; the color arises from sulfide ions within the mineral. In the early 19th century, synthetic ultramarine was developed, most notably by the French chemist Jean-Baptiste Guimet in 1828, followed by other manufacturers. The synthetic pigment is chemically similar to lazurite and can be produced at a fraction of the cost; it is now the dominant form used in art pigments.

Ultramarine is valued for its vivid, stable blue with a slightly purplish undertone. It has high tinting strength and good lightfastness when bound in oil or acrylic media, though it can be sensitive to strong alkalis and certain reduction environments. It blends well with yellows to produce greens and with reds to create violets.

In art history, ultramarine played a prominent role in medieval and Renaissance painting, often used for the robes of holy figures and the sky. Although synthetic ultramarine predominates today, natural ultramarine remains prized for its depth and complexity in some conservation contexts and among traditionalists.