Ultramarine #1 (Lapis Lazuli) Genuine 

Curator: Here we have "Ultramarine #1 (Lapis Lazuli) Genuine," manufactured by Charles Roberson and Co. Editor: My first thought is how powerfully evocative this blue pigment remains, even in this simple form. Curator: Indeed. Ultramarine, derived from lapis lazuli, carried immense cultural weight. Across many traditions, it symbolized the heavens, divinity, truth, and freedom. Editor: And consider the process of grinding and extracting that pigment, the global trade routes involved, all for this singular, concentrated burst of color. Curator: The colour's rarity historically amplified its symbolic power. The colour and the stone were reserved for royalty and religious figures, wasn't it? Editor: It underscores how the value placed on materials and their production shapes artistic expression and cultural meaning. Curator: It really makes you consider the long and meaningful life of colour itself. Editor: I agree. It's a potent reminder of the labour and materials behind art.