Color
By Victoria Finlay
A Natural History of the Palette. Random House, 2003.
Summary of Color book by Victoria Finlay
A history of paints and dyes which not only transcends time and place, but also reveals hidden stories of greed, cruelty, and luxury as played out over centuries of war, peace, poisonings, and more.
Chapters in Color book summary
What do you get from this book? Discover the natural, artificial, and often powerful origins of paints, dyes, and pigments
The electromagnetic spectrum delivers colorful waves of energy to our brains by way of our eyes
Ochre was the first color of paint, which humans used to render themselves immortal
White paint has been a highly sought-after shade, and has led to poisonings, sickness, and even death
The origin of the color red is both mystical and controversial—if not still entirely unresolved
The color yellow is distinct among its peers, and remains both a puzzle and paradox for painters
More than the color of envy, green is the hue that may have been the demise of an exiled emperor
From sea to sky, the color blue holds a prominent place in sacred works of art
Indigo has played an important role in history, especially when it was adopted for use by the ancient Britons
Violet Purple Is Considered the Color of Royalty—and for Good Reason
Summary of the key insights
Selected critiques in brief
Final word
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Color — Book Summary Snapshot
Who should read Color book
- Anthropology students
- art historians
- photographers and painters
- artists and designers
- forensic scientists
About the author of Color
Victoria Finlay
Victoria Finlay is an award-winning writer and world traveler who has scoured the globe to learn, first-hand, the stories behind the colors we see every day. With a background in anthropology, journalism, and art history, Finlay is uniquely qualified to provide a detailed account of the scientific and emotional significance that paints and dyes have long held for humanity.
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