Spanning from the ancient world to modern leaps in technology, and vibrantly illustrated throughout, this book will add a little chroma to anyones understanding of the history of colors. This origin story of historys most vivid color pigments is now in paperback and perfect for artists, history buffs, science lovers, and design fanatics. Red lead, for example, was invented by the ancient Greeks by roasting white lead, and it became the dominant red in medieval painting. Featuring informative and detailed color histories, a section on working with monochromatic color, and recipes for paint-making, Chromatopia provides color enthusiasts with an eclectic story of how synthetic colors came to be. From grinding down beetles and burning animal bones to alchemy and pure luck, Chromatopia reveals the origin stories behind over fifty of historys most vivid color pigments. Throughout history, pigments have been made from deadly metals, poisonous minerals, urine, cow dung, and even crushed insects. Did you know that the Egyptians created the first synthetic color and used it to create the famous blue crown of Queen Nefertiti? Or that the noblest purple comes from a predatory sea snail? In the Roman Empire, hundreds of thousands of snails had to be sacrificed to produce a single ounce of dye.
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