ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book considers not only Persian philosophical and religious texts regarding colour categorisation, but also the perspective of the 17th century tile-makers who decorated the Shah Mosque in Isfahan according to these schema. It uses a combination of scientific and archaeological data to argue that a long-lived colour selection preference for black and green minerals was a critical factor in the development of early metallurgy from c.5000 BC in the Balkans. The book considers the use of natural lighting as a deliberate component in the architecture of Portuguese Romanesque churches. It shows that alterations in light over the course of a single day were among factors incorporated into the design of a church's exterior, highlighting the importance of the lived experience of art and architecture. The book draws on a case study of the representation of light in Dominican images of Thomas Aquinas.
