271 Years Before Pantone, One Man Painted Every Color Imaginable In An 800-Page Book

Before we had Pantone Color Guide, there was no universally recognized system to identify colors. But there were attempts to make it, and probably the most impressive one came from the artist known only as A. Boogert, who back in 1692 created an impressive piece of literature about mixing colors.

Handwritten in Dutch, the “Traité des couleurs servant à la peinture à l’eau“ was an 800-page long guide on color and paint that was probably the most comprehensive piece on colors at the time. It featured color samples, descriptions and even instructions on how to create certain hues and change the tone by adding one, two, or three parts of water.

Medieval book historian Erik Kwakkel was the one who got the chance to examine the book, and as he translated part of the introduction, he concluded that the color book was intended as an educational guide. Sadly, there’s only a single copy of the book known to exist, so probably only a couple of the privileged few got to be educated by it.

The book is currently kept at the Bibliothèque Méjanes in Aix-en-Provence, France.

More info: Erik Kwakkel (h/t: colossal, demilked)

271 Years Before Pantone, One Man Painted Every Color Imaginable In An 800-Page Book

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What do you think ?

POST

Intensive Panda 7 years ago

As someone smart said "Everything new is something old that has been forgotten"

16points

Cees Timmerman 7 years ago

I'm no expert at old Dutch cursive, but i think it says: "The Enlightening Mirror of Paint Art. Where in ? is ? ? colors of water paint with the description ? ? with descriptive ... is to ... art ... natural ... From ? to Delft. Done and written by A Boogert 1962"

6points

Omnomnom 7 years ago

You're almost there. in old Dutch: Klaer lightende spiegel der verfkonst. Waer in tesien is alder handen kleure van waterverfve met de beschrijvingh hoe men die moet bereyen en temy?ere het (troel?k) seer dienstigh is om daer meede alder hande prent of teycken konst seer nateurelijck en naet? leven of tesette en te kleuren. Tot Delft. Gedaen en beschreven door A Boogert 1692. I am not sure about the "?". So it probably translates as: The Enlightening Mirror of Paint Art: In which you can see a lot of colours of waterpaint with a description how you need to prepare it and (?), very useful is for many a print or drawing to add and give colour very naturally and lively. In Delft. Done and written by A Boogert 1692.

4points

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