Colour triangle
Date
1775
Creator
Unknown, Engraver
Object type
Library reference
54971
Material
Technique
Dimensions
height (print): 330mm
width (print): 230mm
width (print): 230mm
Subject
Description
Pyramidal scheme for mixing three primary colours, red, yellow and blue, using a mathematical formula.
In this coloured scheme Mayer illustrate his system using pigments, noting the difficulties of mixing material colours which blend to make dark browns, in contrary to Newton’s hypothesis of spectral colour which should produce white.
Tab III to De affinitate colorum commentatio, Part IV to Opera inedita; vol. I by Tobia Mayer and Georgius Christophorus Lichtenberg (Gottingae, 1775). An essay ‘on the relationship between colours’ was published posthumously as part of the collected works of the German astronomer Tobias Mayer.
Tobias Mayer (1723-1762) German mathematician, astronomer, cartographer and inventor.
In this coloured scheme Mayer illustrate his system using pigments, noting the difficulties of mixing material colours which blend to make dark browns, in contrary to Newton’s hypothesis of spectral colour which should produce white.
Tab III to De affinitate colorum commentatio, Part IV to Opera inedita; vol. I by Tobia Mayer and Georgius Christophorus Lichtenberg (Gottingae, 1775). An essay ‘on the relationship between colours’ was published posthumously as part of the collected works of the German astronomer Tobias Mayer.
Tobias Mayer (1723-1762) German mathematician, astronomer, cartographer and inventor.