Nature's Palette: A colour reference system from the natural world

The Symes edition of Werners Nomenclature of Colours, first published in 1814 and expanded in 1821, was an early attempt to establish a universal colour reference system to help identify, classify, and represent species from the natural world. This fully realized colour catalogue includes elegant contemporary illustrations of every animal, plant, or mineral that Syme cited, accompanied by expert text explaining the uses and development of colour standards in relation to zoology, botany, mineralology, and anatomy.

Format: Hardback
Length: 290 pages
Publication date: 08 April 2021
Publisher: Thames & Hudson Ltd

Published in 1814 and expanded in 1821, long before the era of color photography or print, Symes edition of Werners Nomenclature of Colours aimed to establish a universal color reference system to help identify, classify, and represent species from the natural world. Werners set of 54 color standards was enhanced by Patrick Syme with the addition of color swatches and further references from nature, bringing the total number of classified hues to 110. The resulting resource proved invaluable not only to artists but also to zoologists, botanists, mineralogists, and anatomists.

In Nature's Palette, this technicolor treasure has, for the first time, been enhanced with the addition of illustrations of the animals, vegetables, and minerals Werner referenced alongside each color swatch and accompanied by expert text explaining the uses and development of color standards in relation to zoology, botany, mineralology, and anatomy. This fully realized color catalog includes elegant contemporary illustrations of every animal, plant, or mineral that Syme cited. Readers can see for themselves the Tile Red in the Cock Bullfinch's breast, the Shrubby Pimpernel, and Porcelain Jasper; or admire the Berlin Blue that Syme identified on the wing feathers of a Jay, in the Hepatica flower, and in Blue Sapphire. Displays of contemporary collectors' cabinets of birds, butterflies, eggs, flowers, and minerals are interspersed at intervals throughout the compendium, with individual specimens color-matched to color swatches. Still a much-loved reference among artists, naturalists, and everyone fascinated by color today, Werners Nomenclature of Colours finds its fullest expression in this beautiful and comprehensive color reference system.

With 1000 illustrations in color, this comprehensive reference system is a testament to the enduring legacy of Werners Nomenclature of Colours and its profound impact on the fields of art, science, and nature.

Weight: 1352g
Dimension: 215 x 274 x 33 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780500252468