Goethe's Theory of ColoursGoethe, Johann Wolfgang von
Philosophy
Goethe's Theory of Colours
Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von
Color
1. Biondo argentino (4).[3] 6. Fulvo acceso.
2. Biondo. 7. Rosso di rame (6).
3. Biondo d'oro. 8. Ocria.
4. Biondo acceso (5). 9. Ocria violacea.
5. Fulvo. 10. Rosso violaceo (7).
Second Series.
11. Violetto (8). 20. Giallo acceso.
12. Indaco (10). 21. Giallo-rancio.
13. Blu carico. 22. Rancio (13).
14. Blu. 23. Rancio-rossiccio.
15. Blu chiaro (11) 24. Rancio-rosso.
16. Celeste. 25. Rosso-rancio.
17. Celeste giallognolo. 26. Lacca-rancia (14).
18. Giallo chiarissimo (12). 27. Lacca.
19. Giallo. 28. Lacca accesa (15).
Third Series.
29. Lacca-purpurea (16). 34. Verde-giallo (20).
30. Lacca-turchiniccia (17). 35. Verde-rancio.
31. Porpora-verdognola (18). 36. Rancio-verde (21).
32. Verde (19). 37. Rancio-roseo.
33. Verde giallognolo. 38. Lacca-rosea (22).
Fourth Series.
39. Lacca-violacea (24). 43. Verde-giallo rossiccio (28).
40. Violaceo-verdognolo (25). 44. Lacca-rosea (30).
41. Verde (26).
42. Verde-giallo (27).
"These tints," Professor Nobili observes, "are disposed according to
the order of the thin mantlings which occasion them; the colour of
the thinnest film is numbered 1; then follow in order those produced
by a gradual thickening of the medium. I cannot deceive myself in
this arrangement, for the thin films which produce the colours are
all applied with the same electro-chemical process. The battery, the
solution, the distances, &c., are always the same; the only difference
is the time the effect is suffered to last. This is a mere instant for
the colour of No. 1, a little longer for No. 2, and so on, increasing
for the succeeding numbers. Other criterions, however, are not wanting
to ascertain the place to which each tint belongs."
The scale differs from that of Newton, inasmuch as there is no blue in
Nobili's first series and no green in the second: green only appears in
the third and fourth series. "The first series," says the Professor,
"is remarkable for the fire and metallic appearance of its tints, the
second for clearness and brilliancy, the third and fourth for force and
richness." The fourth, he observes, has the qualities of the third in a
somewhat lesser degree, but the two greens are very nearly alike.
It is to be observed, that red and green are the principal ingredients
in the third and fourth series, blue and yellow in the second and first.
[1] See "Memorie ed Osservazioni, edite et inedite del Cav. Professor
Nobili," Firenze, 1834.
[2] The colours in some of the compound terms are in a manner mutually
neutralising; such terms might, no doubt, be amended.
[3] The three first numbers in Newton's scale are black, blue, and
white.
NOTE S.--Par. 485.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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