Ultramarine Blue | Matisse Studio acrylic paint

Ultramarine Blue | Matisse Studio acrylic paint

Ultramarine Blue is an iconic pigment often hailed as the “king of blues” for its widespread use in art and design since antiquity. Before its modern synthesis in the 19th century, this colour was originally derived from the semi-precious stone lapis lazuli, mined in Afghanistan for over 7000 years. Ancient civilizations such as the Sumerians and Egyptians coveted this alluring mineral, inlaid in objects of adornment and worship. It is mythologised that Cleopatra herself applied powdered lapis lazuli as eyeshadow.

 

In Western art practices, Ultramarine Blue gained popularity during the 15th Century, as Venetian trade routes brought distant materials to the palettes of Italian Renaissance painters such as Titian and Fra Angelico. As the first lightfast blue available to artists, its rarity and intensity came with a hefty price—once more expensive than gold. Spreading across Europe, India and China, Ultramarine gained status as the most coveted pigment until the 19th Century.

Nowadays, synthetic Ultramarine pigment has widely replaced lapis lazuli, a dazzling but scarce and expensive mineral. Invented in 1862 by Jean Baptiste Guimet, this new colourant revolutionised the accessibility and reach of Ultramarine Blue. Brighter and more violet than its lapis-derived predecessor, the synthetic version quickly became a staple in everything from fine art to industrial applications like detergents, paper whitening, and cosmetics. On the artist’s palette, Ultramarine excels in mixing subtle greens, soft violets, and atmospheric shadows. Its warm, transparent quality and versatility have solidified its place as an indispensable tool for painters, embodying a legacy of beauty, history, and innovation.

Safety Data Sheet for Matisse STUDIO Ultramarine Blue (SDS)

To view or download a copy SDS, please  CLICK HERE * (271kb)  
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