Inessential Colors: Architecture on Paper in Early Modern Europe
by Basile Baudez
Architectural drawings of the Italian Renaissance were largely devoid of color, but from the seventeenth century through the nineteenth, polychromy in architectural representation grew and flourished. Basile Baudez argues that colors appeared on paper when architects adapted the pictorial tools of imitation, cartographers' natural signs, military engineers' conventions, and, finally, painters' affective goals in an attempt to communicate with a broad public.
Inessential Colors traces the use of color in European architectural drawings and prints, revealing how this phenomenon reflected the professional anxieties of an emerging professional practice that was simultaneously art and science. Traversing national borders, the book addresses color as a key player in the long history of rivalry and exchange between European traditions in architectural representation and practice.
Featuring a wealth of previously unpublished drawings, Inessential Colors challenges the long-standing misreading of architectural drawings as illustrations rather than representations, pointing instead to their inherent qualities as independent objects whose beauty paved the way for the visual system architects use today.
U.S. Orders
Free Shipping
- Orders of $75 and more
Standard Delivery
- $12.95 Flat-rate standard shipping to the contiguous 48 states
- $24.95 Flat-rate standard shipping to Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, and U.S. territories
- $6.95 Media mail shipping
- Standard shipping time is 3 to 7 business days
- Some exclusions apply
- Additional fees and exclusions apply on oversize (50+ lbs), custom, and specialty items
Express Delivery
- $28.95 Express delivery to the contiguous 48 states
- Orders placed before 10 am Central Time will be delivered within 2 business days
- Additional fees and exclusions apply on oversize (50+ lbs), custom, and specialty items
- For orders outside of the contiguous 48 states, email orderssupport@mfah.org
Overnight Delivery
- $44.95 Overnight delivery to the contiguous 48 states
- Additional fees and exclusions apply on oversize (50+ lbs), custom, and specialty items
- Orders placed before 10 am Central Time will be delivered within 1 business day
For orders outside of the contiguous 48 states, email orderssupport@mfah.org
International Orders
- International shipping is available for in-stock items
- Pricing and delivery times vary by country and will be shown at checkout
- Shipments may be subject to additional fees
- Expected delivery times will be shown at checkout
- All international sales are final
- International orders are excluded from free shipping offers
For questions, changes, cancellations, or express shipping options, email orderssupport@mfah.org
Gift Cards
- MFA Shop gift cards ordered online will be delivered via email upon purchase
If you would like send or receive a physical gift card, email orderssupport@mfah.org
Custom Fine Art Prints
Made-to-order reproductions are custom printed on demand and are nonreturnable. Please allow 1 to 2 weeks production time. These items ship from Oregon and are not available for in-store pickup.
In-Store Returns
Most items may be returned for a full refund within 30 days. Items must be in the same condition that you received them; unworn or unused; with tags; and in the original packaging. Proof of purchase is required for all returns. Please see below for ineligible items.
If you have any questions regarding your return, email orderssuport@mfah.org
Damages and Issues
If you received a damaged or incorrect item, please email orderssuport@mfah.org right away.
Not Eligible for Return
- Beauty items, including perfumes, candles, and lotions
- Perishable goods, including food, chocolate, flowers, and plants
-
Custom orders, special orders, and personalized items
- Discounted or Sale items
If you have questions about return eligibility, email orderssuport@mfah.org
Exchanges
To initiate an exchange, email orderssupport@mfah.org
Online Returns
Online returns follow the same guidelines as in-store returns. To initiate a return, email orderssupport@mfah.org
Return shipping charges are at your own expense and are nonrefundable unless the item was received damaged or faulty, or an incorrect item was shipped. Please be sure to have a tracking number for the return shipment.
Package and return your item(s) to:
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Attn: Retail Department
5600 Fannin St
Houston TX 77004
Please Note: If you send a return without first initiating contact with MFA Shop, the return will not be accepted.
Refunds
Returns will be processed to the original payment card within 7 days of arrival. Please allow 2 to 3 days processing time for the funds to be returned to your card.
For an update on your refund, email orderssuport@mfah.org