Using Minerals for Color

By 600 A.D. more colors had been discovered by crushing minerals. For example, Lapis lazuli was used to make a deep bright blue. It was also called Ultramarine, which means “across the sea.” This makes sense because long voyages had to be made to get the stones which are mainly found in Afghanistan.

Ultramarine blue from lapis lazuli was even more precious and expensive than gold! It was saved for special paintings, such as Christian paintings of the Virgin Mary.