19/11/2024
The color blue was first produced by the ancient Egyptians, who discovered how to create a durable pigment used for their decorative arts.
Blue has evolved over 6,000 years and has been used by masters throughout the ages to create some of the world’s most iconic works of art. Its journey is far from over, as its evolution continues: a new shade of blue was discovered less than a decade ago.
The Egyptians used blue to paint ceramics, statues, and even decorate the tombs of pharaohs.
Egyptian blue is a synthetic pigment made from a mixture of silica, lime, copper, and an alkali. Its color comes from calcium copper tetrasilicate (CaCuSi₄O₁₀), which has the same composition as a natural mineral. This pigment was used in ancient Egypt for thousands of years and is considered the first synthetic pigment. The earliest evidence of its use dates back to around 2200 BCE. Evidence found in Egypt shows how silica sand, calcite, copper ore, and natron were fused at about 850 degrees Celsius to produce the pigment known as "Egyptian blue."
Fun fact: In 2006, scientists discovered that Egyptian blue fluoresces under certain light, emitting infrared radiation. This discovery was a significant breakthrough for historians, as it made identifying the pigment in ancient artifacts much easier.
