Lapis lazuli is the root word used in Spanish and Portuguese for blue stone. In Spanish the word azul is blue. Centuries ago, French Ultramarine Blue pigment was made from crushed lapis lazuli, a valued blue stone used in dyes for clothing and painting pigments. The 17th century Italian painter, Titian, is known for creating religious paintings with French Ultramarine Blue as the color for Mother Mary's robe and the sky in scenic backdrops.
Today I am adding more layers of the French Ultramarine Blue and Titanium White mixture into the sky beyond the bridge in the Nashvile cityscape. Since my last painting session, the three primary pigments that I use for nightscenes are on my mind. I use Yellow Ochre, French Ultramarine Blue, and Permanent Alizarin Crimson for their more muted qualities. French Ultramarine Blue tends to be more on the blue-violet bias of color. This is great for nocturnal scenes with cooler darker skys.