The Alchemy of Paint: Art, Science and Secrets from the Middle Ages

by Spike Bucklow

The Alchemy of Paint is a critique of the modern world, which Spike Bucklow sees as the product of seventeenth-century ideas about science. In modern times, we have divorced color from its origins, using it for commercial advantage. Spike Bucklow shows us how in medieval times, color had mystical significance far beyond the enjoyment of shade and hue. Each chapter demonstrates the mindset of medieval Europe and is devoted to just one color, acknowledging its connections with life in the pre-modern world. Colors examined and explained in detail include a midnight blue called ultramarine, an opaque red called vermilion, a multitude of colors made from metals, a transparent red called dragonsblood, and, finally, gold. Today, “scarlet” describes a color, but it was originally a type of cloth. Henry VI's wardrobe accounts from 1438 to 1489 show that his cheapest scarlet was £14.2s.6d. and that scarlets could fetch up to twice that price. In the fifteenth century, a mid-priced scarlet cost more than two thousand kilos of cheese or one thousand liters of wine. This expense accounts for the custom of giving important visitors the "red carpet treatment." The book looks at how color was “read” in the Middle Ages and returns to materials to look at the hidden meaning of the artists' version of the philosopher's stone. The penultimate chapter considers why everyone has always loved gold. Spike Bucklow is a conservation scientist working with oil paintings at the Hamilton Kerr Institute in Cambridge.

Genres: Art, History, Nonfiction, Medieval, Science

336 pages, Paperback

First published October 10, 2009

Reviews

[Paul Seftel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book. Very poetic and illuminating source book for Artists and writers. Spike Bucklow has written something quite magical here, bringing together the secrets of colour from their most metaphysical originals looking at the true magic and timeless values they encompass. For those fascinated by Alchemy, paint and secrets of the soul, this is very insightful and comprehensive work, looking into the nature of light and matter.

[E.M. Lynley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fascinating book about art, pigments, history and much more.

I had no idea just preparing pigments and paint would be as interesting (perhaps more) than how the artist uses the paint on canvas. Each pigments requires a different preparation in order to create the paint. Many painters put as much effort into creating the perfect paint as they do into the actual application of paint in their work.

I started using it as a reference for one story and found so much interesting information it sparked my imagination for several more storylines and helped add layer and detail. Honestly, I had to pull myself away from this book and force myself to write.

[K. Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book--the research that went into this book was just as good as they way Bucklow writes.

[Jessica Strider · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pros: very well researched, explains things clearly using numerous examples, goes over various historical traditions

Cons: only mentions the most expensive pigments artists used, only a few illustrations

This is an exploration of colours used by painters in the middle ages by way of their ‘scientific’ and alchemical significance. It mentions myths, traditions, physical and spiritual significances of the materials according to Traditional beliefs. It also goes over the alchemical procedures that made these already expensive pigments even more important.

I was expecting a treatise on all the different pigments used in the middle ages, something akin to a teaching manual. Instead, I got a mind blowing exploration of philosophy and world beliefs of the past. I’ve always been interested in alchemy, and this book explained things like Plato’s cave, 4 element theory, and the Philosopher’s Stone in a way that was easy to understand. While there were only a few simple figure drawings, the clarity of the writing meant illustration wasn’t really necessary (even if it would have been welcome).

Only a few pigments are mentioned: Tyrian purple, ultramarine blue, vermilion and dragonsblood (both red), and gold. Later chapters revisit some of these materials showing their spiritual, rather than physical, significance. I appreciated learning that the location and method of obtaining materials had meaning for the later artwork and use of the pigments, which I hadn’t expected. Similarly, it doesn’t cover all aspects of alchemy, just those associated with the pigments being discussed.

The opening’s a bit condescending in the way of ‘we don’t think as they did, so it will be hard for you to understand what I’m about to say’, but he quickly moved on to the topic at hand, and only occasionally gave a modern analogy for those who might have trouble wrapping their heads around the Traditional world view (as opposed to the modern Scientific, analytical view).

This is a fascinating book and if you have any interest in alchemy I can’t recommend it enough. Another thing it showed, that modern audiences don’t recognize, is how interconnected the world of the past was. We see Europe as an isolated area, ignoring the fact that materials and ideas traversed borders and continents to influence them. I also didn’t realize just how much Christianity took from other traditions. Looks like I’ve a whole lot more reading and research to do.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book, there is a lot of information and it's interesting, but it's very dense. It's like reading the writing of a 12th century monk, with lots of layers of meaning, and it is very easy to get lost. It took me a couple of months to read less than 300 pages.

[Pixie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never again will I take for granted mearly buying paints from a shop!

[Santiago Vieto Rodríguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

For those who love the poetic richness of the life in Middle Ages, this is the book! Not only for painters, or art historians.
This book will open the eyes of those who think that the cartesian materialist science is all powerful and insuperable.
The union of science, religion and poetry, was to much rich int he past that most people imagine, and if is had not been this tragic and great divorce between faith and reason, poetry and science, technology certainly will have evolved in another, and certainly superior way.
It is strongly documented and with a lot of quotes.
I don’t give 5 stars only because I think that it could be improved, with a more clear analysis of the philosophies and mythologies commented. It would had been better if the link of christendom with the antiquity would have been shown and explained more clearly, leaving less spaces to posible doctrinal confusions.

But it is really, really interesting and masterly woven until the great finish in the last chapter.

[Michael Leonard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great resource book about paint and its relationship to alchemy.

[Zyanya Kappes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book changed the way I saw medieval people, it is a great way to introduce yourself to the medieval mindset.

[Aisling · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Unquestionable brilliance of the author, thorough research, enjoyable writing just did not get the organization and found that distracting. Really wish I could give this 5 stars and anyone with an ounce of interest in alchemy, color, history, etc should read this.