https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2014/05/color-book/ --------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------- Fun Things for Creative People Sign In * Archive * About * Events * Contact * Advertise * --------------------------------------------------------------------- [ ] Clear Random post * * MoreMore * Interviews * Photography * Craft * Design * Art * Illustration * Animation * Science * History * Food * sculpture * installation * street art * video * paper * painting * architecture * animals * portraits * humor * nature * drawing * books * birds * anatomy * light * murals * landscapes * plants * ceramics * flowers * embroidery * miniature * collage * posters and prints * glass * surreal * Home * Newsletters * Archive * Membership [?] * Print Shop * Events * About * Contact * Advertise [ ] Clear Advertise on Colossal with Nectar Ads. Editor's Picks: Art Highlights below. For the full collection click here. A Menagerie of Contemplative Animals by Mila Zemliakova Weave Textile Traditions and Nature A New Book Explores the Practices of 38 Black Ceramicists Working Across Generations to Define the Medium Translucent Textile Sculptures by Do Ho Suh Explore the Familiarity of Quotidian Objects Seth Globepainter's Imaginative Murals Center Childhood Optimism and Joy Metaphorical Portraits by Michael Mapes Deconstruct Art History as Collaged Specimens Ecosystems of Fungi and Coral Inhabit Vintage Books in Stephanie Kilgast's Intricate Sculptures See the rest of the Collection >> Art Design History #books #color #watercolor 271 Years Before Pantone, an Artist Mixed and Described Every Color Imaginable in an 800-Page Book May 5, 2014 Christopher Jobson colors-1 In 1692 an artist known only as "A. Boogert" sat down to write a book in Dutch about mixing watercolors. Not only would he begin the book with a bit about the use of color in painting, but would go on to explain how to create certain hues and change the tone by adding one, two, or three parts of water. The premise sounds simple enough, but the final product is almost unfathomable in its detail and scope. Spanning nearly 800 completely handwritten (and painted) pages, Traite des couleurs servant a la peinture a l'eau, was probably the most comprehensive guide to paint and color of its time. According to Medieval book historian Erik Kwakkel who translated part of the introduction, the color book was intended as an educational guide. The irony being there was only a single copy that was probably seen by very few eyes. It's hard not to compare the hundreds of pages of color to its contemporary equivalent, the Pantone Color Guide, which wouldn't be published for the first time until 1963. The entire book is viewable in high resolution here. The book is currently kept at the Bibliotheque Mejanes in Aix-en-Provence, France. (via Erik Kwakkel) colors-2 colors-3 colors-4 colors-5 colors-6 #books #color #watercolor Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. You'll connect with a community of like-minded readers who are passionate about contemporary art, read articles and newsletters ad-free, sustain our interview series, get discounts and early access to our limited-edition print releases, and much more. Join now! Share this story Tweet Pin It --------------------------------------------------------------------- Trending on Colossal --------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------- Membership About Archive Newsletters Contact Art In Your Inbox: Join over 182,000 subscribers Email [ ] Name [ ] [Join] Thanks for subscribing! (c) 2010-2022 Colossal, all rights reserved. We try our best to attribute images, videos, and quotes to their creators and original sources. If you see something on Colossal that is misattributed or you would like removed, please contact us. Colossal participates in affiliate marketing programs and may earn a commission on sales through links to Bookshop, Society6, and various book publishers. See our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.