Description

Book Synopsis
Colour in art - as in life - is both inspiring and uplifting, but where does it come from? How have artists found new hues, and how have these influenced their work? Beginning with the ancients - when just a handful of pigments made up the artist''s palette - and charting the discoveries and developments that have led to the many splendoured rainbow of modern paints, Bright Earth brings the story of colour spectacularly alive. Packed with anecdotes about lucky accidents and hapless misfortunes in the quests for new colours, it provides an entertaining and fascinating new perspective on the science of art.

Trade Review
Brilliant...in every sense. Ball's book is the volume that has been missing from my library * Guardian *
Brings the mysterious subject of colour wonderfully alive. Quite literally an eye-opener * Economist *
A succinct and elegantly structured new survey of Western painting. Ball pitches his learning just right between academic history and a highly readable series of anecdotes and biographical sketches * Daily Mail *
Full of fascinating vignettes. Philip Ball writes engagingly on complicated topics * Sunday Telegraph *
Scattered with attractive particles, sparkles with redolent names... A solid, well-researched compendium of information * TLS *

Bright Earth

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    £15.29

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    RRP £16.99 – you save £1.70 (10%)

    Order before 4pm today for delivery by Tue 16 Jun 2026.

    A Paperback / softback by Philip Ball

    3 in stock

      Trusted by thousands of customers. See 2,385+ Customer Reviews

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      Publisher: Vintage Publishing
      Publication Date: 01/05/2008
      ISBN13: 9780099507130, 978-0099507130
      ISBN10: 0099507137

      Description

      Book Synopsis
      Colour in art - as in life - is both inspiring and uplifting, but where does it come from? How have artists found new hues, and how have these influenced their work? Beginning with the ancients - when just a handful of pigments made up the artist''s palette - and charting the discoveries and developments that have led to the many splendoured rainbow of modern paints, Bright Earth brings the story of colour spectacularly alive. Packed with anecdotes about lucky accidents and hapless misfortunes in the quests for new colours, it provides an entertaining and fascinating new perspective on the science of art.

      Trade Review
      Brilliant...in every sense. Ball's book is the volume that has been missing from my library * Guardian *
      Brings the mysterious subject of colour wonderfully alive. Quite literally an eye-opener * Economist *
      A succinct and elegantly structured new survey of Western painting. Ball pitches his learning just right between academic history and a highly readable series of anecdotes and biographical sketches * Daily Mail *
      Full of fascinating vignettes. Philip Ball writes engagingly on complicated topics * Sunday Telegraph *
      Scattered with attractive particles, sparkles with redolent names... A solid, well-researched compendium of information * TLS *

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