Colours of Art : The Story of Art in 80 Palettes

'a superb guide to the OTT bombast of the baroque and the subtle shades of minimalism and monochrome painting. A rainbow book to raise the spirits in the darkest days of the year' - The Times

An ingenious survey of colour  via 80 carefully curated artworks and their palettes

Throughout history the greatest of artists have experimented with new pigments and new technologies to lead movements and deliver masterpieces. But as something so cardinal, we sometimes forget how poignant colour palettes can be, and how much they can tell us. When Vermeer painted The Milkmaid, the amount of ultramarine he could use was written in the contract.

How did that affect how he used it? When Turner experimented with Indian Yellow, he captured roaring flames that brought his paintings to life. If he had used a more ordinary yellow, would he have created something so extraordinary? And how did Warhol throw away the rulebook to change what colour could achieve? Structured chronologically, Colours of Art provides a fun, intelligent and visually engaging look at the greatest artistic palettes in art history - from Rafael's use of perspective and Vermeer's ultramarine, to Andy Warhol's hot pinks and Lisa Brice's blue women. Colours of Art offers a refreshing take on the subject and acts as a primer for artists, designers and art lovers who want to look at art history from a different perspective.

One of the Times and Sunday Times Art Books of the Year 2022

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