Organised thematically by the colours themselves, this volume takes the reader on a journey through key visual, botanical and scientific books of the past, with illustrations including shells, beetles, minerals and gems, plants, flowers, birds, and even anatomy. This is a comprehensive visual index of colours developed as a colour system and an attempt to codify the colours and hues of natural objects, flora and fauna.
Publisher's descripion: This chromatic catalogue of the natural world pairs individual colour swatches with examples from the animal, vegetable and mineral kingdoms to create a beautiful and comprehensive colour reference system to grace every bookshelf.
The first-ever visual expansion of Werner’s Nomenclature of Colours, featuring over 800 illustration references from the natural world. Marking the 200th anniversary of the publication of Syme’s expanded edition of Werner’s Nomenclature of Colours (1821), this lavish volume takes Syme’s field guide of 110 standard colours and – for the first time – fully illustrates it with nineteenth-century depictions of his referenced species. Expert text explains the uses and development of colour standards in relation to zoology, botany, minerology and anatomy, while specimens from contemporary collector’s cabinets (birds, butterflies, eggs, flowers and minerals) are matched to each colour swatch. Syme’s groundbreaking guide attempted to establish a universal colour reference system to help identify, classify and represent species from the natural world: this landmark publication completes his endeavour.