Observations on theory of light and colours
Date
20 January 1676
Creator
Unknown, Artist
Object type
Archive reference number
Manuscript page number
p276
Dimensions
height (page): 370mm
width (page): 232mm
width (page): 232mm
Description
This drawing shows 'how the colours of the 4 & 18th observations are produced' in Isaac Newton's paper on his theory of light and colours.
The paper was read before the Royal Society on 20 January and 3 February 1676, and was subsequently incorporated into Newton's Opticks (1704).
This diagram is copied from RBO/5/102.
The paper was read before the Royal Society on 20 January and 3 February 1676, and was subsequently incorporated into Newton's Opticks (1704).
This diagram is copied from RBO/5/102.
Object history
At the meeting of the Royal Society on 20 January 1676, ‘There was also read the beginning of Mr. Newton’s discourse, containing such observations, as conduce to further discoveries for completing his theory of light and colours, especially as to the constitution of natural bodies, on which their colours or transparency depend: in which he describes first the principal of his observations, and then considers and makes uses of them. At this time there were read the first fifteen of those observations as follows’ (Birch 3:272). The text and figures are printed in Birch 3:272-79. The remainder of the paper was read on 3 February 1676; the text and figures are printed in Birch 3:280-95.
Related fellows
Isaac Newton (1642 - 1727, British) , Natural philosopher
Associated place