Azurite MP, extra dark, coarse, 100 - 125 µ, PB 30

Azurite MP represents a breakthrough in preserving one of painting's enduring mysteries. This extra-dark, coarse-grain pigment employs a proprietary protein-coating process developed by Michael Price to prevent the color shift that has long plagued azurite in oil media. The copper-based pigment naturally tends toward green in acidic environments like linseed oil, yet this innovation stabilizes its distinctive blue tone. Particle sorting during production yields exceptional purity and vibrancy across the range. Historical precedent supports the approach—conservation analysis of Van Eyck paintings revealed similar protein coatings on original pigments. Azurite MP delivers the greener blue characteristic of Lapis Armenius with modern reliability for oil painting.

• Chemical description: Copper hydroxide carbonate, Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2
• Lightfastness - thinned: 8 (1 is bad, 8 is best)
• Lightfastness - medium: 8 (1 is bad, 8 is best)
• Lightfastness - concentrated: 8 (1 is bad, 8 is best)
• Suitability: Acrylics, Oil, Tempera, Watercolor / Gouache