The history of art is inseparable from the history of color. And what a fascinating story they tell together: one that brims with an all-star cast of characters, eye-opening details, and unexpected detours through the annals of human civilization and scientific discovery. Enter critically acclaimed writer and popular journalist Victoria Finlay, who here takes readers across the globe and over the centuries on an unforgettable tour through the brilliant history of color in art. Written for newcomers to the subject and aspiring young artists alike, Finlay’s quest to uncover the origins and science of color will beguile readers of all ages with its warm and conversational style. Her rich narrative is illustrated in full color throughout with 166 major works of artmost from the collections of the J. Paul Getty Museum. Readers of this book will revel in a treasure trove of fun-filled facts and anecdotes. Were it not for Cleopatra, for instance, purple might not have become the royal color of the Western world. Without Napoleon, the black graphite pencil might never have found its way into the hands of Cézanne. Without mango-eating cows, the sunsets of Turner might have lost their shimmering glow. And were it not for the pigment cobalt blue, the halls of museums worldwide might still be filled with forged Vermeers. Red ocher, green earth, Indian yellow, lead whiteno pigment from the artist’s broad and diverse palette escapes Finlay’s shrewd eye in this breathtaking exploration.
After reading this great book, I realized, that you really can't understand the history of art fully without looking at the history of color. Flipping through the pages of Victoria Finlay's "The Brilliant History of Color in Art" is like taking a ride through time alongside a cast of characters with names like Chrome Yellow, Tyrian Purple, and Madder Red as your guides.Finlay digs deep to find little-known stories and facts about the colors that we all know and lov..
