Costly pigments and dyes of the past

Throughout history, dyes and pigments were made from minerals, plants, and animal materials. Natural ultramarine came from lapis lazuli, which had to be transported from distant deposits in Afghanistan; its rich blue made the pigment exceptionally costly and prestigious in Europe. Carmine dye was obtained from cochineal scale insects cultivated in Mexico and the Andes and exported to Europe after colonization. Cost and status varied by time and place, and artists sometimes reserved rare colors for areas important to their patrons.