Science writer to discuss color’s role in art history

What did great paintings of the past look like when they were new? How did natural pigments influence art? Science writer Phillip Ball will tackle such questions at his Tuesday, March 29, talk.

In “Bright Earth: A Look at the Use of Color in Western Art Through the Eyes of a Scientist,” Ball will discuss how the science of color has played a role in shaping art’s history. His visit is co-sponsored by UW-Madison’s Wisconsin Initiative for Science Literacy, Center for the Humanities and the College of Engineering.

A consulting editor at the journal Nature, Ball holds a Ph.D in physics and is the author of several books, including his latest, “Bright Earth: Art and the Invention of Color.” A frequent contributor to print, radio and television, Ball also is science writer in residence at the University College London’s chemistry department.

Ball will spend three days at UW–Madison, meeting with faculty and students from diverse departments. Free and open to the public, Ball’s lecture is at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 29, in Room 1800 of Engineering Hall, 1415 Engineering Drive.