Victoria Finlay is a writer and journalist whose work delves into the vibrant worlds of color and jewels. She explores the origins and histories of pigments and gemstones, uncovering how they have shaped human culture and creativity. Finlay's writing is driven by a deep curiosity about anthropology and a desire to understand how diverse societies perceive and utilize the visual elements of our world. Her approach illuminates the rich tapestry of human experience as told through the lens of color and precious materials.
Nora's heartfelt desire for a baby brother takes center stage in this charming tale, making it an ideal read for young children anticipating a new sibling. The story uses simple language to engage young readers, offering a light-hearted approach to the transition of becoming a big brother or sister. Through Nora's journey, the book serves as a valuable resource for families navigating this exciting change together.
A magnificent work of original research, unwinding history through cloth - how we make it, use it and what it means to us.
"Journey from the Ice Age to the Digital Age with a surprising cast of characters on this worldwide tour of color in art. Students will discover the strange, intriguing, and humorous stories of their favorite colors, the science behind them, and how they forever changed the courses of art and history. Big questions will pique your students' curiosity: Why is the sky blue? Why are there seven colors in the rainbow? What is art, anyway? The Brilliant History of Color in Art is also a treasure trove of world art, from cave paintings to Roman treasures and Chinese dragon scrolls; to works by Titian and Michelangelo, Monet and Kandinsky, Rothko and Hockney; to contemporary sculpture and graffiti art. Many of the book's 166 spectacular images are from the collections of the J. Paul Getty Museum." -- Publisher's description.
When we put on jewels, what are we really wearing? In this scintillating book, Victoria Finlay embarks on her own globe-circling search for the real stories behind some of the gems we prize most.
Part travelogue, part narrative history, 'Colour' unlocks the history of the colours of the rainbow, and reveals how paints came to be invented, discovered, traded and used. This remarkable and beautifully written book remembers a time when red paint was really the colour of blood, when orange was the poison pigment, blue as expensive as gold, and yellow made from the urine of cows force-fed with mangoes. It looks at how green was carried by yaks along the silk road, and how an entire nation was founded on the colour purple. Exciting, richly informative, and always surprising, 'Colour' lifts the lid on the historical palette and unearths an astonishing wealth of stories about the quest for colours, and our efforts to understand them.