The Book of Rainbows: Art, Literature, Science, & MythologyThe rainbow is the most universally enthralling phenomenon in nature. It appears in art, myth, and literature around the world as a potent symbol -- of hope, peace, and sometimes evil. The Book of Rainbows: Art, Literature, Science, & Mythology is a beautifully illustrated and substantive survey of the rainbow as it appears in science and culture through the ages, from Noah to a modern artist who built a rainbow over the United Nations. The book opens with the science of rainbows, from Aristotle to the twentieth-century discovery of the extra color, and goes on to discuss mythology and symbolism, and the rainbow in literature and art. The literary survey includes more than 50 quotations from the likes of Ovid, Shakespeare, Wordsworth, and Emily Dickinson. And the illustrations include the most glorious depictions of rainbows in the history of art. Among the dozens of artists represented are Rubens, Hokusai, Monet, Seurat, and Kandinsky. This uniquely beautiful and expansive book is as appealing as its subject. |
Contents
The Rainbow in the Visual Arts | 6 |
Middle Ages and Renaissance | 20 |
The Science of Rainbows | 30 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
Angle arch Arizona ARNOLD GENTHE Art Gallery Art Resource artist band Bean Courtesy believed the rainbow blue bridge bright Caspar Cathedral cloud COCONINO NATIONAL FOREST Covenant Dark Thunder Degr Division of Art DOUBLE RAINBOW drops marked earth Engraving FREDERIC EDWIN FREDERIC EDWIN CHURCH Friedrich GALEN ROWELL George goddess Grand Canyon green Greenler heaven infrared Iris Izanagi J.M.W. TURNER JOHN CONSTABLE KARL FRIEDRICH SCHINKEL Lake Landscape with Rainbow look LYONEL FEININGER Mather Miriam and Ira mist mountain Museum of Art myth mythology Newton's NIAGARA Noah NOAH'S SACRIFICE observer's Opticks optics Paul Photo primary bow primary rainbow Private collection Public Library Astor rain rainbow appeared rainbow serpent Rainbow sung raindrop reflection Reflexions refracted Robert ROBERT DELAUNAY Rubens SCHELTE secondary bow seen Stern storm strike the Senses THANGKA thunderstorm TIBETAN THANGKA TOM BEAN TREATISE violet Wallach Division watercolor wavelength William Winter Thunder yellow