The Story of Ultramarine from the Silk Road to Renoir: The Chemistry of Colour | National Gallery

How did ultramarine go from being more expensive than gold to one of the cheapest pigements for artists? Follow the journey of this vibrant blue colour, ultramarine, one of the most celebrated and sought-after pigments in art.

Joanna Russell from our Scientific Department looks at the use of this blue in 'The Wilton Diptych' and Renoir's 'Umbrellas'.

The Chemistry of Colour series explores some of the weird and wonderful ways pigments were historically produced, and how we can identify them today. 🧪🔬

'The Wilton Diptych' and 'Umbrellas' are part National Treasures. 12 of the nation’s most iconic and well-loved paintings from our collection are being lent to 12 venues across the UK.

The National Treasures displays open simultaneously on 10 May 2024, the 200th anniversary of the Gallery’s opening in London, enabling people from all over the country to see, up close, some of the greatest works in the history of Western art.

💙 Find out more about 'The Wilton Diptych':

💙 Find out more about Renoir's 'Umbrellas':

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The National Gallery houses the national collection of paintings in the Western European tradition from the 13th to the 19th centuries. The museum is free of charge and open 361 days per year, daily between 10am - 6pm and on Fridays between 10am - 9pm.

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[LieslHuddleston]

It's so amazing how beautiful that blue still is after 600+ years. How much I would love to see Renoir's Umbrellas, the internet only has small, not-so-great photographs of it, it must be stunning in person. From the small glimpse of it in this video, it almost looks like he used similar brushstrokes as Cezanne's in the dress of the main woman on the left. In photos I have seen over the years, I've always wondered why the characters on the right had markedly different blue tones than the rest of the characters, and now thanks to this video, I finally understand. Thank you!

[vikimoody]

Thank you to the woman who spoke so thoroughly about this topic. She was extremely well versed yet so understated, so comfortable with the topic. BRAVO! Very impressive. Loved it!

[MariaVosa]

Fantastic short art history and science lesson!

[friedrichjunzt]

Interesting that blue is such a rare / hard to make color. In LEDs, it took decades until we finally were able to produce blue lights (bright enough for electronics / screens that is). Red and green LEDs had been around for 30 years or so, before blue ones could be made.

[jillyb]

That blue is stunningly intense and beautiful. A fascinating history of a pigment. Thank you

[Paulo-]

Jesus! Natural ultramarine looks crazy beautiful through TV. I can only imagine what's like seeing it personally.

[fionabryant]

Seeing the lapis blue in paintings in the uffizi is beyond description

[gostowl]

Glad you explained how lapis lazuli was processed to make a usable paint.

[alinc]

The fact that this color was used to paint the entire exterior of a church, Voronet monastery, in Bucovina, Romania, that is known as the "Sistine chapel of the East" is a testament of the richness of Moldova region in the past.

[gordmacdonald]

Also...
- If its ground in oil, it oxidises and has to be stored in a glass bottle under a layer of oil rather than in a tube where it will harden quickly.
- Suspended in oil, it acts like wet sand on a beach in that if its interacted with, it will become dry looking. Left alone, it returns to a wet luminous look. Smalt does this as well. Like smalt, this pigment resists oil suspension accounting for the drying in a tube. If you buy it as a tubed paint, ($200-$300) transfer it to a glass jar with a centimetre of walnut oil on top.
- Traditionally, it was glazed over a lighter pigment like lead white but optimally, it works best over a dried Azure blue or any turquoise+ white near a Munsell 6-7 value. (Egyptians used both blues/ BC)
- It has a low tinting power and is very delicate, at least 3 layers of glaze must be done to get the full effect. At one or two, you will wonder what the fuss is about . At three or four, you will be speechless.
- It will dry dull. If its glazed in layers it will still be somewhat dull. When varnished however, you will weep .
- If you add lead white to it, and use it in backgrounds, all the landscapes youve seen in museums painted before 1800 will make sense to you.

[purkaitsurajit]

An extraordinary history behind one of the most stunningly beautiful color pigment ever produced and used by the world's greatest artists explained in such great detail by The National Gallery!!😍😍❤❤

[lynnhubbard]

I have seen at least half of your color and pigment videos! Going back for more this Sunday evening in San Francisco.

[sacredkinetics.lns.]

🌺🌹
Very educational; well done.
Thanks.

[PhilipMurphyExtra]

Wonderful short art history lesson with great detail

[Silvia-gzrp]

Thinking about all the lives that were consumed in these mines.... and still are. Thank you for sharing with us the journey of ultramarine.

[cadenceblackburn]

definitely one of my favourite colours, thanks for this 💙

[Chaoslorden]

Blue and gold still looks rich and beutiful.

[Ferdinand]

Thank you, this was excellent! Will you do other pigments? It's a facsinating topic.

[wendystanley]

I loved this video, thank you. I always wondered where that intense blue color came from and I always look for it when I visit a gallery or museum

[lynnblack]

I remember laundry blueing. It was very blue! A very interesting talk. Thank you.