PB30

 Semi-transparent

 Lightfastness 8/8

 Granulation: High

We want to rediscover the fascinating beauty of this semi-precious stone, a cerulean gem of medieval palettes and protagonist of skies and draperies by Renaissance masters, by making this watercolour with carefully selected best quality azurite gemstone, mulling it ourselves, and purified it with a traditional washing process.

 Azurite is a naturally occurring copper carbonate.

 It represents the natural blue pigment of the ancient world. The Egyptians and Romans already used it, Pliny calls it 'lapis armenius', thus revealing its origin. It reached European painters from deposits in France, Spain and Germany and for this reason it was also called 'Azzurro d'Alemagna' or 'Azzurro della Magna'. It was less expensive (but far from cheap) than the majestic ultramarine blue from Lapis Lazuli, chemically different, but with a similar appearance. To distinguish them, sometimes a fragment of the precious mineral was prudently heated which, if Azurite, blackened as it cooled. It has been insinuated that Durer sometimes painted with Azurite thinking it was ultramarine.
It could happen that they were used together, to obtain the most amazing blues, the azurite served as a background and the ultramarine for small, more purplish fields. Since the beginning of the 18th century with the invention of Prussian Blue, decidedly cheaper, the Azurite has inexorably fallen into disuse.

 NB: Sensitive to humidity, even in the godet, it may tend to turn green over time. Store in a dry place.

 Sensitive to chlorides: wet with distilled or chlorine-free water if possible.

 Not suitable for children, do not ingest, use caution when spraying.