Colour & Craft, A Series on Mineral Colours in Ancient and Medieval Art.

Colour & Craft is a short series of Art History lectures focusing on the hidden histories of

minerals and metals that were mined, smelted and processed to produce the raw materials

and colours for great works of art in the Medieval and Early Modern periods, both in the

East and the West. This weekly series of four lectures by Anita Chowdry is devoted to

minerals that provided four precious colour-groups, and their value in the decorative arts.

Referencing objects from museum collections, with a wide range of fascinating

documentary sources dating from Antiquity, the Middle Ages and the Early Renaissance, this

series offers a rich tapestry of information, delving into history, folklore, trade, industry, art

and symbolism.

The following will be discussed each week:

18/2/22 Heavenly Blues explores one of the most sought after colours in the arts with a long history of industrial processing. This lecture will provide an overview of different mineral and chemical blues, their role in trade, and a focus on the finer points of using precious Lapis Lazuli as a pigment in painting and illumination in Persian manuscripts.

25/2/22 Rivers of Gold examines our perennial fascination with gold that has woven for us a rich cultural and industrial history, which includes its lavish use in the decorative arts. This lecture will explore a network of history, myth, and ancient technology, as well as a first-hand experience of the use of gold as a pigment in art.

4/3/22 Green Serene is all about the use and symbolism of green pigments and minerals, particularly in the context of the Islamic world. In the mineral world, green is associated with emeralds, jade, and also with copper, the earliest of the metals to be mined, smelted and processed. Its ores and derivatives provided us with a beautiful range of pigments that we see in ceramics and manuscripts.

11/3/22 Red Metal is about the complex history of the powerful red mineral pigments - vermilion, red lead, and haematite. We will consider their integral role in the history of alchemy and philosophy as well as industry, and how this impacted on their use in painting across cultures.

Please note that this series will be offered as Hybrid talks.

Location for in person attendance:

Whittaker Suite

Richmond Old Town Hall,

Whittaker Ave, Richmond TW9 1TP

We urge you to read the COVID-19 Safety Acknowledgment, which is part of our Booking terms and conditions and cancellation policy

Please make sure to log on 10 min before the start of the talks should you be joining online.

NB 11.00 UK = 12.00 Amsterdam = 6.00 New York = 19.00 Hong Kong

A recording will be made each week and can be bought separately after the lecture has taken place.

Please note that the currency used on this website is Great British Pounds, however this does not mean you can not pay in your local currency or with your local bank card!