Ultramarine Blue , a time tested pigment originally found in nature as “Lapis Lazuli or Lazurite” very well acclaimed and appreciated from Biblical Era where it has been described as “Sapphire”. The most valuable deposits of Lazurite was found in Afghanistan and from there they were brought into Medieval Europe by Persians and Russians. Since the stone was brought from abroad, it became known as “ AZUURUM ULTRAMARIUM” or the blue from beyond the sea. Ultramarine Blue being the literal English translation. The Medieval artisans employed the stone itself in mosaic and the pigment which was worth its weight in gold was highly prized by the artists.
EARLY EXTRACTION OF PIGMENT
The process of extraction of the pure blue pigment from its mother mineral was described by Marco Polo in 1271 A.D. The stone was crushed mechanically, and ground into a very fine powder. It was then mixed with a special lute, wrapped in cloth and kneaded under water for a long time. The blue colour was then subjected to many cycles of filtration and extraction until the pure pigment was obtained . The great masters of the Flemish , Dutch and Italian Schools of Paintings used this refined natural ultramarine in the religious paintings.
FIRST SYNTHESIS
In 1824 the Persian “ Society d ‘ Encouragement” offered a prize of 6000 Francs to the first person to synthesize the colour at a cost of 300 Francs or less per kg. Four years later this was accomplished by Guimet, a French scientist in Toluose, whose plant still manufactures the pigment. At about the same time, Gmelin in Germany published similar results.
