• Rare natural ultramarine pigment, sourced from genuine lapis lazuli for rich, deep blue hues. Revered by artists since the Middle Ages, this highly lightfast and transparent pigment is perfect for oil, watercolor, and tempera painting. Offers exceptional brilliance and granulation, ideal for fine art, restoration, and historical techniques. Ethically sourced and finely ground for smooth application.
  • Fra Angelico Lapis Pigment
  • Fra Angelico Lapis Pigment
  • Duccio was the leading artist of fourteenth-century Siena. His style is characterized by elegant, flowing lines, soft colors and tender representations of the divine. Here, the Virgin’s cloak is defined by a fluid gold hem. Mother and child share an affectionate gaze as the infant Christ plays with her white veil. The central panel is flanked by two smaller panels – depicting Saint Dominic on the left and Saint Aurea on the right – which can fold inwards to cover and protect the main image.
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Fra Angelico Lapis Pigment

Fra Angelico Lapis Pigment

$39.00
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Description

Fra Angelico Blue is our richest and purest lapis pigment. It is a natural, handmade single pigment named after the luminous blues used by early Renaissance painter Fra Angelico. This pigment is entirely natural and is the purest form of lapis blue exactly as formulated in the deep, vibrant blues seen in medieval religious frescoes and illuminated manuscripts. It is derived from pure lapis azurite and is the most pure natural form of ultramarine, providing a luminous, highly saturated hue with exceptional depth.

Fra Angelico Blue has outstanding lightfastness, making it ideal for both classical and contemporary artwork. It blends seamlessly with other pigments, offering brilliant, intense blues in painting. Its semi-opaque nature allows for rich layering, depth, and soft color transitions in oil, watercolor, and tempera applications. Compared to modern blues such as Phthalo Blue, Fra Angelico Blue provides a more historical, rich blue and subtle tonal variation, making it a preferred choice for traditional and restoration work.

History

Fra Angelico Blue takes its name from the early Renaissance artist Fra Angelico (1395 to 1455), who was known for his use of luminous blues in religious paintings and frescoes.

During antiquity, the Egyptians and Romans used natural blues such as Azurite and Egyptian Blue in their artwork. However, these pigments often had limited availability and varying stability.

In the Middle Ages and Renaissance, Lapis Lazuli, mined from Afghanistan, became the most valued blue pigment, often reserved for painting the robes of the Virgin Mary. Fra Angelico used this pigment extensively, employing it in frescoes, altarpieces, and illuminated manuscripts to create vivid, ethereal compositions. Artists of this era often mixed blue pigments with white lead or binders to enhance their vibrancy and usability. In the pictured artwork by Duccio 'The Virgin and Child with Saints Dominic and Aurea', Fra Angelico is used extensively for the Virgin Mother's robes to create stunning contrast with the gold leaf.

By the 17th and 18th centuries, advancements in pigment technology led to the development of more stable blues, such as synthetic Ultramarine, which mimicked the appearance of natural Lapis Lazuli. This allowed for broader accessibility and use in painting.

Today, Fra Angelico Blue remains a specialty pigment prized for its historical accuracy, luminous beauty, and connection to early Renaissance art. It is still used by conservators, icon painters, and traditional artists seeking to capture the rich blues of historical masterpieces.

Pigment Information

Pigment Type: Natural (Lazurite)
Source: Extraction from lazurite (natural ultramarine)
Origin: Afghanistan (natural)
Suitable Mediums: Watercolor, Oil, Tempera, Acrylic
Lightfastness: Excellent
Opacity: Semi-opaque
Other Names: Renaissance Blue, Angelico Blue, Lapis Lazuli, Natural Ultramarine, Lapis Blue
Image: 'The Virgin and Child with Saints Dominic and Aurea' by Duccio from the National Gallery
Color Index Code: PB29 (natural variant, distinct from synthetic PB29)

Health and Safety

  • For art use only. Not for cosmetic, food or children's use.
  • Keep out of reach of children and pets. Do not eat, drink or smoke while working.
  • Avoid creating or breathing dust. Work in a ventilated area and wear a NIOSH approved dust respirator (P100 or better) when handling dry pigment.
  • Wear gloves and eye protection. Wash hands and work surfaces after use, and never rinse pigment into drains.
  • Do not spray apply, sand or burn.
  • If swallowed or if you feel unwell, contact a poison control center (U.S. 1-800-222-1222) or a doctor.
  • Safety Data Sheet available on request.

Caution: Natural earths and minerals contain crystalline silica (quartz). Breathing the dust over long periods can cause serious lung disease (silicosis) and lung cancer. Always use a dust respirator with the dry pigment.

WARNING: This product can expose you to crystalline silica (airborne particles of respirable size), which is known to the State of California to cause cancer. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.

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C
Catherine

Seeing the Fra Angelico Lapis in person I must say with great delight: This is the deepest, purest blue I've ever seen! It is so beautiful! I can only imagine the kind of paintings that I'm going to create with this color! Thank you so much for this extraordinary treasure of a pigment! Will definitely shop in this store again!