The Bottom Line
Any painter interested in knowing more about the colours they use and the way colours were discovered, developed, or evolved, will find this book fascinating.
Pros
- Full of fascinating facts about pigments
- A highly readable history of colour
- Will change the way you view colours
Cons
- Occasionally a bit technical
Description
- Paperback book, 448 pages, published by Penguin, www.penguin.com
- 14 chapters, three inserts of colour illustrations
- Looks at colours used in antiquity and modern times
- Explores how discoveries in chemistry led to synthetic pigments
- Chapter on the problems of creating blue pigments
- Chapter on colour reproduction of art in books
- In-depth study of the Impressionists' use of colour
- Author Philip Ball is a science journalist and writer of several science books
Guide Review - Bright Earth -- The Invention of Colour by Philip Ball
‘Bright Earth’ is a fascinating history of the use of pigments in Western art, including the discovery and development of pigments, the way they were used by particular artists and in specific eras, for example Impressionism. It’s history writing at its best -- compelling reading, packed with examples, anecdotes, and quotes, and leaves you with a new appreciation for colour. Occasional it's a bit technical if chemistry isn’t your strong point, but skipping these won’t detract from your enjoyment of the book. Any painter wanting to know more about the colours that we today simply squeeze from a tube, or an art lover wanting to get a new level of appreciation for masterworks in gallery, is sure to enjoy this book.
