our selection of beautiful Books to give at Christmas

Rose, by Michel Pastoureau

We no longer present the essential historian of colors that is Michel Pastoureau: to overcome the gloom of the end of the year, his pink is welcome. And yet, it took time to become a color, a real one, being at first only a nuance. And having no name among the Greeks, nor among the Latins… Even if the first known pink pigments were found on Macedonian paintings from the 4th century BC. From discreet to admired color, pink is here, as always with Pastoureau, the means of crossing human societies in an original and exciting way. Threshold, €39.90.

Angels in painting, by Laurent Bolard

What do we know about angels? Who are they? And what are their missions? Both invisible, mysterious and abundantly cited in sacred texts, celestial beings have inspired artists, from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Through more than a hundred paintings, this work with sumptuous illustrations takes us into their dreamlike, biblical and spiritual worlds. Hazan, €60.

Sparks of humanity, by Irene Vallejo

The author of Infinity in a reed returns to delight us in brief chronicles to peck at. This language specialist, philologist Irène Vallejo, opens us to the knowledge of past centuries and classical cultures (by summoning Marcus Aurelius, Aeschylus or Saint Augustine), while being deeply present in our contemporary world to which she connects them. Sparks that illuminate… Les Belles Lettres, €23.

Flowers, by Carole Tolila

For flower lovers, a pretty object book which not only allows