Tags: #colorbooks, #colorhistory, #dyestuffs
Author: Victoria Finlay
Genre: History
Publisher: Random House Trade Paperbacks
"Discover the tantalizing true stories behind your favorite colors.For example: Cleopatra used saffron—a source of the color yellow—for seduction. Extracted from an Afghan mine, the blue “ultramarine” paint used by Michelangelo was so expensive he couldn’t afford to buy it himself. Since ancient times, carmine red—still found in lipsticks and Cherry Coke today—has come from the blood of insects."
Each chapter is an exploration of the story of a different hue, from their natural or artificial origins, to their use in art, to their impact on the modern world. I found this book both entertaining and informative and recommend it to anyone interested in color.