PB28 CI#77346
65% of Cobalt Blue in a tube (Standard Color of Cobalt Blue)
Toxicity: Non-toxic
Lightfastness: 8/8
The color is a vibrant and intense cobalt blue. The hue is a deep, rich blue with a slightly purple undertone. The color has a cool, jewel-like quality that captures the eye, reminiscent of deep ocean waters or a clear night sky.
History:
Cobalt compounds have been used as blue colorants since ancient times, found in Egyptian pottery and Chinese porcelain. In 1802, French chemist Louis Jacques Thénard officially discovered and named the pigment "cobalt blue." Cobalt blue is made from a mixture of cobalt(II) oxide and alumina (CoAl2O4). By 1807, a cobalt blue pigment factory was established near Paris, making it widely available to artists.
Famous Works:
- Vincent van Gogh used it extensively in "The Starry Night" (1889)
- Johannes Vermeer likely used early forms of cobalt blue in "Girl with a Pearl Earring" (c. 1665)
