The Laws of Contrast in Colour and Their Application to the Arts of Painting, Decoration of Buildings, Mosaic Work, Tapestry and Carpet Weaving, Calico Printing, Bress, Paper Staining, Printing, Illumination, Landscape and Flower Gardening etc.

Chevreul, M. E. Translated from the French by John Spanton

Published by G. Routledge & Co., 1858

About this Item

Second Edition, first printing of this edition, translated by P "Illustrated with Designs". Color chart frontispiece with 3 other b&W design plates; one is a Chromatic Diagram, with moving part (and tipped in upside down). 12mo. binding as shown, with tooled border and gilt title on board and spine. Very minor bumps to edges and corners. Two small spots to front board. Lightest of wear at head and heel. A very nice copy. This Spanton translation was the second in English, preceded by the Martel translation of 1854 & 1855, De la Loi du Contraste simultané des Couleurs (1839). "one of the most influential treatises on colour written during the nineteenth century.The neo-impressionist painters derived their methods of painting from Chevreul's principles. They found the scientific basis for the division of tones in Chevreul's principles of simultaneous contrast." - DSB. A delightful interlude on the principles of color applied to effects of hats and skin tone. Chevreul, a chemist, was named director of the dye works in Paris. He received many complaints about the dyes being used there. In particular, the blacks appeared different when used next to blues. He determined that the yarn's perceived color was influenced by other surrounding yarns. This led to a concept known as simultaneous contrast which he explored and elaborated in this seminal tome. Chevreul is also linked to what is sometimes called Chevreul's illusion, the bright edges that seem to exist between adjacent strips of identical colors having different intensities.Chevreul's work addressed painting with the aim of reproducing nature as closely as possible, by separating effects of light and chiaroscuro, which the artist must repeat, from those of color contrast, which would apply to the paint's own color and so be exaggerated. His colour principles had a great influence on advanced art in Europe, particularly Impressionism, Neo-Impressionism and Orphism.

Seller Inventory # 12168

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Laws of Contrast in Colour and Their Application to the Arts of Painting, Decoration of Buildings, Mosaic Work, Tapestry and Carpet Weaving, Calico Printing, Bress, Paper Staining, Printing, Illumination, Landscape and Flower Gardening etc.
• Publisher: G. Routledge & Co.
• Publication Date: 1858
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: First of this edition.
• Condition: Very Good