A Renaissance of Color: Particle Separation and Preparation of Azurite for Use in Oil Painting

The discovery of a technique for the particle separation and preparation of the blue mineral pigment azurite for use in an oil painting medium aids the comparison of colors used in the Renaissance with modern synthetic pigments. Chroma or chromatic intensity is presented as the key to understanding the language of color theory. This is supported by the first images ever of azurite cut by a focused ion beam (FIB) in order to compare unprepared and prepared particles of the mineral and thus demonstrate the importance of the preparation process. The implications of a natural pigment renaissance for artists and restorers are assessed.