Saturday, November 5, 2016

History of Color

A Brief History of Color in Art


Have you ever wondered how color came to be?  The history of color/pigments is fascinating--how did an artist know how to reproduce a color needed for artwork?

The website, Artsy, has an article, The Art Genome by Sarah Gottesman, that gives a brief insight into the history of color.

Red ochre is one of the oldest pigments still in use--can you believe?!  

Lapis Lazuli or Blue is worth more than gold!  

Joseph Turner used the experimental watercolor Indian Yellow—a fluorescent paint derived from the urine of mango-fed cows.  

Green pigments have been some of the most poisonous in history.  

The Impressionists—especially Monet—so adored the new hue that critics accused the painters of having “violettomania.”

The darkest pigment of the Old Masters, “bone black” is produced by burning animal bones in an air-free chamber.

Of all the pigments that have been banned over the centuries, the color most missed by painters is likely Lead White.

Give this article a read--great information here--especially if you enjoy color and art history!

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