Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v2.c77.97

v2.c77.97

“Now reverting to the use of the azurite and lapis lazuli in Indian painting we are aware that the rājavarta was known as a colouring material in the Viṣṇudharmottara, But this blue must have been a very costly material in ancient times. Now a question rises about the so-called deep blue used in Ajanta painting. I do not think that it is ultramarine but quite possibly the azure. Even the deep blue of Jain miniatures seems to be azurite. In the Mughal painting, however, real ultramarine azure has been used in costly paintings to denote sky. Sometimes the blues of garments are painted with azurite; the exuberance of blue in calligraphic panels also points it to be azurite than real ultramarine. In Pahārī painting the excessive use of azure is apparent. But in spite of all this there is no separate mention of azurite anywhere either in Sanskrit or Persian. It seems possible that azurite and lapis lazuli in Mughal painting went under the same name”—ibid, 26-27.