General Knowledge
Which pigment's synthetic form freed painters from lapis lazuli's price?
- French ultramarine
- Prussian blue only
- Cobalt violet
The answer is French ultramarine. Synthetic ultramarine, from 1828.
A pigment is a chemical compound that gives a substance or organism color, or is used by humans to add or alter color or change visual appearance. Pigments are nearly or completely insoluble and chemically unreactive in water or another medium; in contrast, dyes are colored substances which are soluble or go into solution at some stage in their use. Dyes are often organic compounds whereas pigments are often inorganic. Pigments of prehistoric and historic value include ochre, charcoal, and lapis lazuli. Biological pigments are compounds produced by living organisms that provide coloration.
Wikipedia · Pigment