What does lapis mean?
Lapis is a deep blue pigment traditionally made from the mineral lapis lazuli. It was highly valued in European painting, manuscript illumination, and decorative arts because it produced a rich, durable blue and could be ground into different strengths of color. Before modern synthetic pigments were developed, lapis was one of the most important blue materials available to artists and scribes, and its expense sometimes encouraged the use of less costly alternatives for large areas. Today, “lapis” can still refer to this historic pigment, especially in museum, conservation, and art-historical contexts, while “lapis lazuli” more precisely identifies the mineral itself. The word is also sometimes used descriptively for an intense, saturated blue, although that use is less precise than discussing the pigment or mineral directly.
nounA deep blue pigment formerly made from lapis lazuli and used in painting and other artistic work. By extension, the word can also refer to the blue mineral known as lapis lazuli.
- A deep blue pigment made from lapis lazuli, historically used in painting and illuminated manuscripts.
- By extension, the lapis lazuli mineral itself.
"The artist used lapis to create the intense blue sky in the painting."
"Medieval scribes often used lapis to add luminous blue to their manuscripts."
"The museum conservator identified traces of lapis in the painting’s sky."
Rare; normally used when referring to separate quantities or examples of the pigment.
"The collection contains several lapises of different shades."
Before synthetic blue pigments became available, lapis transformed crushed lapis lazuli into one of art history’s most prized blues.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does lapis come from?
The English word lapis comes through medieval usage from Latin lapis, meaning “stone.” It entered English within the expression lapis lazuli, in which lazuli ultimately derives from Persian lāžvard, a name associated with lapis lazuli. The shortened form lapis came to denote the blue pigment prepared from the mineral, and later the mineral could also be called lapis by extension.
How lapis is actually used
In modern usage, lapis often refers to the pigment rather than to the raw mineral. The term is common in art history, conservation, and descriptions of traditional materials, though it may sound specialized to general readers.
Easily confused with lapis
Lapis is commonly used for the blue pigment made from lapis lazuli, while lapis lazuli specifically names the blue mineral from which the pigment is derived.