Natural ultramarine was prepared from the blue mineral lazurite within lapis lazuli. Its rarity and labour-intensive preparation made it a prized artists’ material. The development of synthetic ultramarine in the nineteenth century made a related blue available much more widely.
Ultramarine offers a distinctive blue that can lean towards violet. Natural and synthetic versions share an important colour story, but vary in composition, consistency and working characteristics.
An ultramarine pigment name does not mean a modern paint contains crushed lapis lazuli. Synthetic ultramarine is a manufactured pigment; natural origin is not a measure of quality or safety.
These articles explain pigment and mineral families, not the sourcing or complete formulation of any Cameron Colours paint. Historical names can cover different materials. Follow the product guidance and safety data for the paint you use; do not handle or heat raw pigment powders at home.
