The History, Theory, and Practice of Illuminating: Condensed from 'The Art of Illuminating' by the same illustrator and authorWyatt, M. Digby (Matthew Digby), Sir
History
The History, Theory, and Practice of Illuminating: Condensed from 'The Art of Illuminating' by the same illustrator and author
Wyatt, M. Digby (Matthew Digby), Sir
Alphabet; Illumination of books and manuscripts; Initials
These colours are selected from the list of water-colours made at the
present day (upwards of eighty), and will, I think, be found to be all that
can well be required for illuminating. The whole number is by no means
indispensable, and I have therefore marked by different letters of the
alphabet,--1st, A, those without which it would be useless to commence
work; 2ndly, B, those which should first be added; 3rdly, C, those which
are required for very great brilliancy in certain effects; and, 4thly, D,
those which may be regarded as luxuries in the art. The C are really
important; the D are much less so. Messrs. Winsor & Newton have arranged
them into four different lists, which are placed in boxes (complete with
colours and materials for working in water-colours), of the respective
retail values of £1. 1_s._, £1. 11_s._ 6_d._, £2. 2_s._, and £3. 3_s._
Boxes corresponding with, or slightly varying from these, in selection of
colours and materials, may be obtained from other artists' colourmen.
I now proceed to notice these colours _seriatim_, in reference to their
tints, both when used alone and when mixed with other colours.
YELLOWS.
_Lemon Yellow._--A vivid high-toned yellow, semi-opaque, is extremely
telling upon gold. Mixed with cadmium yellow it furnishes a range of
brilliant warm yellows. It mixes well with gamboge, orange vermilion,
cobalt, emerald green, and oxide of chromium, and with any of these
produces clean and useful tints.
_Gamboge._--A bright transparent yellow of light tone; works freely, and
is very useful for glazing purposes. In combination with lemon yellow it
affords a range of clean tints. When mixed with a little Mars yellow it
produces a clear, warm, transparent tone of colour.
_Cadmium Yellow._--A rich glowing yellow, powerful in tint, and
semi-transparent. This is a most effective colour for illuminating. When
judiciously toned with white, it furnishes a series of useful shades.
Mixed with lemon yellow it produces a range of clean vivid tints. It does
not, however, make good greens--they are dingy. Mixed with carmine, or
glazed with it, it gives a series of strong luminous shades.
_Mars Yellow._--A semi-transparent warm yellow, of slightly russet tone,
but clean and bright in tint. Useful where a quiet yellow is required;
mixes well with gamboge; does not make good greens.
REDS.
_Rose Madder._--A light transparent pink colour of extremely pure tone.
It is delicate in tint, but very effective, on account of its purity.
Mixed with cobalt, it affords clean, warm, and cold purples. The addition
of a little carmine materially heightens the tone of this colour, though
at the same time it somewhat impairs its purity.
_Crimson Lake._--A rich crimson colour, clean and transparent; washes and
mixes well. More generally useful than carmine, though wanting the
intense depth and brilliancy of the latter colour.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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