Difference between revisions of "Ultramarine blue, natural"

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[[File:465 ultramarine_nat.jpg|thumb|Ultramarine blue, natural]]
 
[[File:465 ultramarine_nat.jpg|thumb|Ultramarine blue, natural]]
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
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[[File:Natultra C100x.jpg|thumb|Ultramarine blue, natural at 100x (visible light left; UV light right)]]
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Natural ultramarine blue pigment is the ground, separated blue particles ([[lazurite]]) from the gemstone [[lapis lazuli]]. Lapis has been mined since the 3rd millennium BCE in Afghanistan at the Badakhshan mines. Ancient trade routes distributed the lapis throughout Europe and the Far East. From the 13th century, the method used to prepare ultramarine pigment mixed powdered lapis with wax, resin and oils then kneaded the mixture in a dilute lye solution; this allowed the blue particles to disperse into the alkaline water while the extraneous minerals (e.g., [[calcite]], [[pyrite]], silicates) are retained in the putty. This was a time consuming process that produced varying shades of blue. The purest, deep blue was extracted in the first batch and sold for very high prices. As the process was continued, the subsequent batches of pigments were slightly less pure; the final batch was a transparent blue gray called ultramarine ash. In all the fractions, some transparent material is present (calcite) which aids microscopically in the distinguishing the natural from [[ultramarine blue, synthetic|synthetic ultramarine]] pigments which were first made in 1828. Ultramarine blue is used as a pigment in paints ([[oil paint|oil]], [[tempera]], [[watercolor paint|watercolor]], [[fresco]]), [[wallpaper]], [[soap]], textile printing, and laundry bluing agents.
  
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Natural ultramarine blue pigment is the ground, separated blue particles ([[lazurite]]) from the gemstone [[lapis lazuli]]. Lapis has been mined since the 3rd millennium BCE in Afghanistan at the Badakhshan mines. Ancient trade routes distributed the lapis throughout Europe and the Far East. From the 13th century, the method used to prepare ultramarine pigment mixed powdered lapis with wax, resin and oils then kneaded the mixture in a dilute lye solution; this allowed the blue particles to disperse into the alkaline water while the extraneous minerals (e.g., [[calcite]], [[pyrite]], silicates) are retained in the putty. This was a time consuming process that produced varying shades of blue. The purest, deep blue was extracted in the first batch and sold for very high prices. As the process was continued, the subsequent batches of pigments were slightly less pure; the final batch was a transparent blue gray called ultramarine ash. In all the fractions, some transparent material is present (calcite) which aids microscopically in the distinguishing the natural from [[synthetic ultramarine]] pigments which were first made in 1828. Ultramarine blue is used as a pigment in paints ([[oil paint|oil]], [[tempera]], [[watercolor paint|watercolor]], [[fresco]]), [[wallpaper]], [[soap]], textile printing, and laundry bluing agents.
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[[[SliderGallery rightalign|MFA- Ultramarine, natural.jpg~FTIR|Natural ultramarine, Forbes 465 (MFA), blue particle, 532nm.TIF~Raman (MFA)|PIG473.jpg~XRD]]]
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[[File:Natultra C100x.jpg|thumb|Ultramarine blue, natural]]
 
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== Synonyms and Related Terms ==
 
== Synonyms and Related Terms ==
  
 
natural ultramarine blue; Pigment blue 29; CI 77007; lapis lazuli blue; Ultramarinblau, echt (Deut.); outremer naturel (Fr.); blu oltremare naturale (It.); lapislazzuli (It.); ultramarino verdadero (Esp.); lapislázuli (Esp.); oyltramarina fysikh (Gr.); lapis lazuli (Gr.); ultramarijn blauw (Ned.); ultramaryna (Pol); ultramarin (Sven.); azul ultramarino, natural (Port.); bleu d'Azur; Armenian blue; lazuline blue; ultramarine ash; mineral blue; vein stone; lazurstein
 
natural ultramarine blue; Pigment blue 29; CI 77007; lapis lazuli blue; Ultramarinblau, echt (Deut.); outremer naturel (Fr.); blu oltremare naturale (It.); lapislazzuli (It.); ultramarino verdadero (Esp.); lapislázuli (Esp.); oyltramarina fysikh (Gr.); lapis lazuli (Gr.); ultramarijn blauw (Ned.); ultramaryna (Pol); ultramarin (Sven.); azul ultramarino, natural (Port.); bleu d'Azur; Armenian blue; lazuline blue; ultramarine ash; mineral blue; vein stone; lazurstein
  
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[[[SliderGallery rightalign|MFA- Ultramarine, natural.jpg~FTIR|Natural ultramarine, Forbes 465 (MFA), blue particle, 532nm.TIF~Raman (MFA)|PIG473.jpg~XRD]]]
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== Risks ==
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== Other Properties ==
 
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Discolors when exposed to weak acids or sulfur fumes.
 
  
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Irregular particles, no birefringence, no pleochroism, extinction under crossed polars. Naturally mixed with silicates, calcite and pyrite.  
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* No significant hazards.  
 +
* Noncombustible. 
 +
* Becomes dull with outdoor weathering.
  
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Insoluble in water.  Isotropic crystal system.
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==Physical and Chemical Properties==
  
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ASTM lightfastness=1 (excellent)
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* Discolors when exposed to weak acids or sulfur fumes.
 +
* Irregular particles, no birefringence, no pleochroism, extinction under crossed polars.
 +
* Naturally mixed with silicates, calcite and pyrite.
 +
* Insoluble in water. 
 +
* Isotropic crystal system.
 +
* ASTM lightfastness=1 (excellent)
  
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
{| class="wikitable"
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|-
 
|-
 
! scope="row"| Density
 
! scope="row"| Density
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| 2.4 - 2.5
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| 2.4 - 2.5 g/ml
 
|-
 
|-
 
! scope="row"| Refractive Index
 
! scope="row"| Refractive Index
 
| about 1.5
 
| about 1.5
 
|}
 
|}
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== Hazards and Safety ==
 
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No significant hazards. Noncombustible. 
 
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Becomes dull with outdoor weathering.
 
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== Additional Information ==
 
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° J. Plesters, "Ultramarine Blue, Natural and Artificial", ''Artists Pigments'', Volume 2, A. Roy (ed.), Oxford University Press: Oxford, 1993.
 
  
 
== Comparisons ==
 
== Comparisons ==
  
 
[[media:download_file_495.pdf|Characteristics of Common Blue Pigments]]
 
[[media:download_file_495.pdf|Characteristics of Common Blue Pigments]]
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== Additional Images ==
 
== Additional Images ==
  
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
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File:39_Ultram.blue_nat_500X.jpg|Ultramarine blue, natural
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File:39_Ultram.blue_nat_500X.jpg|Ultramarine blue, natural at 500x
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File:39_Ultram.blue_nat_500X_pol.jpg|Ultramarine blue, natural
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File:39_Ultram.blue_nat_500X_pol.jpg|Ultramarine blue, natural at 500x polarized light
 
File:Lapis_Natural_ PPL 400x.JPG|Ultramarine blue, natural (Lapis Lazuli), PPL, 400x
 
File:Lapis_Natural_ PPL 400x.JPG|Ultramarine blue, natural (Lapis Lazuli), PPL, 400x
 
File:Lapis_Natural_ XPL 400x.JPG|Ultramarine blue, natural (Lapis Lazuli), XPL, 400x
 
File:Lapis_Natural_ XPL 400x.JPG|Ultramarine blue, natural (Lapis Lazuli), XPL, 400x
Line 61: Line 51:
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
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==Resources and Citations==
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== Sources Checked for Data in Record ==
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* J. Plesters, "Ultramarine Blue, Natural and Artificial", ''Artists Pigments'', Volume 2, A. Roy (ed.), Oxford University Press: Oxford, 1993.
  
 
* Nicholas Eastaugh, Valentine Walsh, Tracey Chaplin, Ruth Siddall, ''Pigment Compendium'', Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford, 2004
 
* Nicholas Eastaugh, Valentine Walsh, Tracey Chaplin, Ruth Siddall, ''Pigment Compendium'', Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford, 2004
Line 75: Line 65:
  
 
* R.D. Harley, ''Artists' Pigments c. 1600-1835'', Butterworth Scientific, London, 1982
 
* R.D. Harley, ''Artists' Pigments c. 1600-1835'', Butterworth Scientific, London, 1982
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* ''Artists' Pigments: A Handbook of their History and Characteristics'', Ashok Roy (ed.), National Gallery of Art, Washington DC, Vol. 2, 1993  Comment: J. Plesters, "Ultramarine Blue, Natural and Artificial"
 
  
 
* ''The Merck Index'', Martha Windholz (ed.), Merck Research Labs, Rahway NJ, 10th edition, 1983
 
* ''The Merck Index'', Martha Windholz (ed.), Merck Research Labs, Rahway NJ, 10th edition, 1983
  
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* ''Encyclopedia Britannica'', http://www.britannica.com  Comment: "ultramarine." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2005. Encyclopædia Britannica Premium Service  7 Apr. 2005 .
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* ''Encyclopedia Britannica'', http://www.britannica.com  Comment: "ultramarine." Accessed 7 Apr. 2005 .
  
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* Website address 1  Comment: Pigments through the ages -http://webexhibits.org/pigments/indiv/technical/ultramarine.html
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* Pigments through the ages -http://webexhibits.org/pigments/indiv/technical/ultramarine.html
  
 
* Thomas B. Brill, ''Light Its Interaction with Art and Antiquities'', Plenum Press, New York City, 1980
 
* Thomas B. Brill, ''Light Its Interaction with Art and Antiquities'', Plenum Press, New York City, 1980
Line 90: Line 78:
 
* Colour Index International online at www.colour-index.org
 
* Colour Index International online at www.colour-index.org
  
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* Art and Architecture Thesaurus Online, http://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabulary/aat/, J. Paul Getty Trust, Los Angeles, 2000
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* Art and Architecture Thesaurus Online, https://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabulary/aat/, J. Paul Getty Trust, Los Angeles, 2000
  
  
  
 
[[Category:Materials database]]
 
[[Category:Materials database]]

Revision as of 08:51, 23 June 2022

Ultramarine blue, natural

Description

Ultramarine blue, natural at 100x (visible light left; UV light right)

Natural ultramarine blue pigment is the ground, separated blue particles (Lazurite) from the gemstone Lapis lazuli. Lapis has been mined since the 3rd millennium BCE in Afghanistan at the Badakhshan mines. Ancient trade routes distributed the lapis throughout Europe and the Far East. From the 13th century, the method used to prepare ultramarine pigment mixed powdered lapis with wax, resin and oils then kneaded the mixture in a dilute lye solution; this allowed the blue particles to disperse into the alkaline water while the extraneous minerals (e.g., Calcite, Pyrite, silicates) are retained in the putty. This was a time consuming process that produced varying shades of blue. The purest, deep blue was extracted in the first batch and sold for very high prices. As the process was continued, the subsequent batches of pigments were slightly less pure; the final batch was a transparent blue gray called ultramarine ash. In all the fractions, some transparent material is present (calcite) which aids microscopically in the distinguishing the natural from synthetic ultramarine pigments which were first made in 1828. Ultramarine blue is used as a pigment in paints (oil, Tempera, watercolor, Fresco), Wallpaper, Soap, textile printing, and laundry bluing agents.

FTIR

MFA- Ultramarine, natural.jpg

Raman (MFA)

Natural ultramarine, Forbes 465 (MFA), blue particle, 532nm.TIF

XRD

PIG473.jpg

Synonyms and Related Terms

natural ultramarine blue; Pigment blue 29; CI 77007; lapis lazuli blue; Ultramarinblau, echt (Deut.); outremer naturel (Fr.); blu oltremare naturale (It.); lapislazzuli (It.); ultramarino verdadero (Esp.); lapislázuli (Esp.); oyltramarina fysikh (Gr.); lapis lazuli (Gr.); ultramarijn blauw (Ned.); ultramaryna (Pol); ultramarin (Sven.); azul ultramarino, natural (Port.); bleu d'Azur; Armenian blue; lazuline blue; ultramarine ash; mineral blue; vein stone; lazurstein

Risks

  • No significant hazards.
  • Noncombustible.
  • Becomes dull with outdoor weathering.

Physical and Chemical Properties

  • Discolors when exposed to weak acids or sulfur fumes.
  • Irregular particles, no birefringence, no pleochroism, extinction under crossed polars.
  • Naturally mixed with silicates, calcite and pyrite.
  • Insoluble in water.
  • Isotropic crystal system.
  • ASTM lightfastness=1 (excellent)
Composition 3Na2O.3Al2O3.6SiO2.2Na2S
Density 2.4 - 2.5 g/ml
Refractive Index about 1.5

Comparisons

Characteristics of Common Blue Pigments

Additional Images

  • Ultramarine blue, natural at 500x

  • Ultramarine blue, natural at 500x polarized light

  • Ultramarine blue, natural (Lapis Lazuli), PPL, 400x

  • Ultramarine blue, natural (Lapis Lazuli), XPL, 400x

  • Ultramarine blue, natural (Lapis Lazuli), agglomerate with assoc. minerals, PPL, 400x

  • Ultramarine blue, natural (Lapis Lazuli), agglomerate with assoc. minerals, XPL, 400x

Resources and Citations

  • J. Plesters, "Ultramarine Blue, Natural and Artificial", Artists Pigments, Volume 2, A. Roy (ed.), Oxford University Press: Oxford, 1993.
  • Nicholas Eastaugh, Valentine Walsh, Tracey Chaplin, Ruth Siddall, Pigment Compendium, Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford, 2004
  • R. J. Gettens, G.L. Stout, Painting Materials, A Short Encyclopaedia, Dover Publications, New York, 1966
  • Reed Kay, The Painter's Guide To Studio Methods and Materials, Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1983
  • Richard S. Lewis, Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993
  • Hermann Kuhn, Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art and Antiquities, Butterworths, London, 1986
  • R.D. Harley, Artists' Pigments c. 1600-1835, Butterworth Scientific, London, 1982
  • The Merck Index, Martha Windholz (ed.), Merck Research Labs, Rahway NJ, 10th edition, 1983
  • Thomas B. Brill, Light Its Interaction with Art and Antiquities, Plenum Press, New York City, 1980
  • The Dictionary of Art, Grove's Dictionaries Inc., New York, 1996 Comment: "Pigments"
  • Colour Index International online at www.colour-index.org

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