The Victorian Palette

Join Concetta Martone, Ph.D. on ZOOM

Colors are all around us. They are inherent to the natural world but also man-made. They speak to us directly when revealing details about the nature of objects, subliminally when invoking moods and eliciting emotions, and aesthetically when delighting us with their beauty. Color is an essential element of the visual arts, and artists and designers have employed it to serve a wide range of aesthetic and symbolic purposes. Attitudes to color have changed through time, and understanding the significance of color in a specific era means understanding its relationship with the larger cultural context. In this talk, Concetta will explore the historical dimension of color as it applies to British art and design at the time of Queen Victoria. The discussion will focus on the innovations and traditions that contributed to the re-evaluation of color as a powerful means of revelation. The works of artists and designers will serve as evidence of the eclectic and multifaceted character of the Victorians’ experience of the power of color.