Ultramarine blue was originally made by grinding lapis lazuli into powder. It remained an extremely expensive pigment until a synthetic ultramarine was invented in 1826. Ultramarine linseed oil paint is transparent and creates therefor a very beautiful depth, something luminous.The name comes from the Latin ultramarinus, literally "beyond the sea", because the pigment was imported into Europe from mines in Afghanistan by Italian traders during the 14. and 15. centuries.
Please note that we will be closed from April 7th to April 10th, 2026 inclusive. We will be available again as usual from April 13th. We will process incoming orders up to and including April 1st.