Ultramarine (natural)
The finest blue known to the ancients, Lapis lazuli has been mined for centuries from a location still in use today in the mountain valley of Kokcha, Afghanistan.
Manufacturer / product code: Kremer / 10510
Chemical description: mineral Lapis Lazuli: sodium-aluminium-silicate, containing sulfur. Kremer PDF
Color: blue
Color Index: PB29
More info: Pigments Through The Ages Colourlex
Natural ultramarine, derived from the semi-precious stone lapis lazuli, is one of the most celebrated and storied pigments in the history of art. Its origins lie in the remote mines of Badakhshan, in present-day Afghanistan, where lapis has been extracted for more than six millennia. The term “ultramarine” — “from beyond the seas” — reflects the pigment’s long journey along trade routes into the Mediterranean world. Already prized in ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt for inlays and jewelry, lapis was only later transformed into a true pigment through sophisticated purification methods perfected during the Middle Ages.
By the 13th century, natural ultramarine had become the most precious blue available to European painters, often costing more than its weight in gold. Its deep, celestial hue held powerful symbolic meaning, associated with the divine, the infinite, and the Virgin Mary. Contracts for medieval and Renaissance paintings frequently specified the exact amount and quality of ultramarine to be used, testifying to its enormous value and prestige. Artists such as Giotto, Masaccio, and Vermeer used natural ultramarine to achieve extraordinary luminosity in robes, skies, and architectural details.
Despite its cost, the pigment remained essential through the 17th century, until the development of synthetic ultramarine in the early 19th century dramatically reduced its exclusivity. Yet natural ultramarine retains a unique place in the history of art: its crystalline structure, rich color depth, and cultural significance make it unlike any modern substitute.
Raman Spectroscopy 532 nm – ElviRa Spectrometer for Art
Raman Spectroscopy 532 nm (ElviRa spectrometer) Pigments-Checker Database (65193 downloads )
Raman spectroscopy 785 nm
Pigments (powder, no binder)
Raman Spectroscopy 785 nm Pigments (pure, no binder) (67958 downloads )
Pigments with acrylic binder (Pigments Checker)
Raman Spectroscopy 785 nm Pigments-Checker Database (68136 downloads )
Pure pigments (no binder, just powder)
DOWNLOAD paper: “Pigments Checker version 3.0, a handy set for conservation scientists: A free online Raman spectra database”
Raman spectroscopy 830 nm
Pigments (powder, no binder)
Raman Spectroscopy 830 nm Pigments-Checker Database (55204 downloads )
Raman spectroscopy 1064 nm
Pigments (powder, no binder)
Raman Spectroscopy 1064 nm Pigments-Checker Database (50935 downloads )
XRF spectroscopy
XRF Spectroscopy Pigments-Checker Database (77576 downloads )
DOWNLOAD previous database from Pigments Checker V.3 DOWNLOAD paper: R. Larsen, N. Coluzzi, A. Cosentino “Free XRF Spectroscopy database of Pigments Checker” Intl Journal of Conservation Science.
Reflectance Spectroscopy (200-1000 nm) – GorgiasUV Spectrometer
Reflectance Spectroscopy (200-1000 nm) (GorgiasUV) Pigments-Checker Database (81091 downloads )
Reflectance spectroscopy – Gorgias Spectrometer for Art
Reflectance Spectroscopy (350-950 nm) (Gorgias) Pigments-Checker Database (87999 downloads )
NIR Reflectance spectroscopy
NIR-Reflectance Spectroscopy (930-1690 nm) Pigments-Checker Database (77063 downloads )
FT-IR Spectroscopy (Non-invasive Diffuse Reflectance Probe)
FTIR Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy Pigments-Checker Database (68812 downloads )
FTIR non-invasive Spectroscopy Pigments (pure, no binder) Database (70595 downloads )
