The Most Expensive Blue in History

Lapis Lazuli is a semi-precious stone primarily mined in Afganhistan. In the middle ages, Europeans ground the rock into dust making it a pigment in paint.

Lapis Lazuli is rather expensive still, but it was once more valuable than gold in antiquity. Artists would write contracts detailing just how much blue pigment would be used in their commisioned paintings. The blue, lapis lazuli, would be reserved for only the most important elements in a painting. It was for figures of the virgin Mary for example.

As far as oil paints are concerned, Michael Harding is the only company I saw that made lapis lazui paint. It sold on Dick Blick for about $90 per 40ml tube, and that was at a discount. It looks like Micheal Harding no longer sells that paint.

Daniel Smith sells lapis lazuli as watercolors in 15ml tubes. Dick Blick sells it for $22.18 right now.

Lapis lazuli was replaced by the color ultramarine blue.