“For centuries [colour] had been considered inferior in the hierarchy of the elements of art. By the end of the eighteenth century, however, colour had become a standard element in aesthetic discourse, teaching and academic publications
“… The influence of Newton and his followers, combined with the invention of many new pigments as well as watercolours in moist cake form, had made painting with colour an exciting occupation not just for serious artists but also for a much wider audience. The colour revolution had begun.”
Alexandra Loske, in “Colour: A Visual History”, p13
Oh it must have been very drab and depressing without colours…
I’m glad to live in an era full of colours at our fingertips!!!
It didn’t help that pigments were rather limited for thousands of years — drab earthy reds, yellows, BROWNS and the occasional spot of rich blue. This is a very good book, by the way — just got my copy!