Buckley, a chemist and designer of film prosthetics, researches the elements involved in the creation of various pigments used in antique and medieval pigments. His studies include both the actual elements in the colors and the beliefs of ancient historians and philosophers concerning them. To his data he adds an almost stream of consciousness narrative on mysticism and alchemy, rife with symbols drawn from several traditions. His avowed aim is to restore the mystery to the nuances of shade and light in color. Distributed in the US by Consortium Book Sales Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)