Talk by Ruth Siddall, University College London on Wednesday 12th July 2023, Queen Square, Bath.

From the cave paintings of Neanderthal man to the masterpieces of Vermeer and Picasso, where would civilisation have been without rocks? A talk exploring both the common and unusual minerals used as pigments in Art. Throughout history, earth and mineral pigments have been important global trade commodities and some have found huge value as prestigious materials in their own right. This talk tells the story of their history, provenance, trade and place in society.

The third talk in a series of three to complement the BRLSI exhibition ‘Riches of the Earth’