The painting 'Comedians' from 1720 showcases which blue pigment?

• A. Ultramarine
• B. Cobalt blue
• C. Prussian blue
• D. Naples yellow

Answer: (C)

Prussian blue is the blue pigment that fits this 1720 painting. Once discovered in 1704, it offered a deep, vibrant blue at a fraction of the cost of ultramarine, making it the practical choice for everyday oil paintings. In a scene from this period, artists commonly used Prussian blue to render shadows, fabrics, and interiors with a rich, cool blue that was stable and easy to mix. Ultramarine, derived from lapis lazuli, remained expensive and used more sparingly for special effects; Naples yellow is a yellow, not blue; cobalt blue would not typically appear in works from this early 18th-century Dutch context, as it became common later. So the painting’s blue look aligns with Prussian blue’s availability and tonal quality in that era.