Goethe's Theory of Colours by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

1839. The last-named work contains much useful information.

465 words  |  Chapter 27

[2] Italian writers of the 16th century speak of three kinds. Cardanus says, that of the _abies_ was esteemed most, that of the _larix_ next, and that of the _picea_ least. The resin extracted by incision from the last (the pinus abies Linnæi) is known by the name of Burgundy pitch; when extracted by fire it is black. The three varieties occur in Italian treatises on art, under the names of _oglio di abezzo_, _trementina_ and _pece Greca_. [3] The concrete balsam _benzoe_, called by the Italians _beluzino_, and _belzoino_, is sometimes spoken of as a varnish. [4] Marcucci supposes that balsam of copaiba was mixed with the pigments by the (later) Venetians. [5] "L'Archipelago con tutte le Isole," Ven. 1658. The incidental notices of the remains of antiquity in this work would be curious and important if they could be relied on. In describing the island of Samos, for instance, the author asserts that the temple of Juno was in tolerable preservation, and that the statue was still there. [6] "La Carta del Navegar Pitoresco," Ven. 1660. It is in the Venetian dialect. [7] Inveriadure (invetriature), literally the glazing applied to earthenware. [8] "O de che strazze se fan cavedal! D'ogio d'avezzo, mastici e sandraca; E trementina (per no'dir triaca) Robe, che ilustrerave ogni stival."--p. 338. The alliteration of the words _trementina_ and _triaca_ is of course lost in a translation. [9] "I li ha fati straluser co' i colori." Boschini was at least constant in his opinion. In the second edition of his "Ricche Minere della Pittura Veneziana," which appeared fourteen years after the publication of his poem, he repeats that the Venetian painters avoided some colours in flesh "e similmente i lustri e le vernici." [10] Thus, in the introduction to the "Ricche Minere," Boschini calls the Milanese, Florentine, Lombard, and Bolognese painters, _forestieri_. [11] "Il Riposo," Firenze, 1584. [12] "De' Veri Precetti della Pittura," Ravenna, 1587. [13] "Trattato della Pittura fondato nell' autorità di molti eccellenti in questa professione." Venezia, 1642. Bisagno remarks in his preface, that the books on art were few, and that painters were in the habit of keeping them secret. He acknowledges that he has availed himself of the labours of others, but without mentioning his sources: some passages are copied from Lomazzo. He, however, lays claim to some original observations, and says he had seen much and discoursed with many excellent painters. [14] "Le Meraviglie dell' Arte," Venezia, 1648. [15] It has been conjectured by some that this story proved the immixture of varnishes with the colours, and that the oil was only used to dilute them. The epitaph on Antonello da Messina which existed in Vasari's time, alludes to his having mixed the colours with oil. [16] "Petri Mariæ Caneparii De Atramentis cujuscumque generis," Venet.