PB15 as 20th and 21st Artists’ Pigments: Conservation Concerns

Copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) provides the most important blue and green pigments from the 21st century artists’ paints. This paper focuses on the blue pigments of CuPc, which are referenced in the Colour Index as PB15. The employment of PB15 as artists’ pigments since the very beginning until now is summarized through archives of artists’ color makers and current color charts. Moreover, for the first time, a review of the cases of PB15 identifica- tion encountered in the field of cultural heritage is presented. For each case reported in this study, the analytical methods that allowed identifying the blue pigment are specified. The significance and the relevance of various destructive and non-destructive methods, for this topic in particular are also discussed. Finally, the implications of PB15 in common conservation prac- tices are outlined.