§14,15. COLOURS FROM NATURE. 19 



distinct ; and while in paintings, especially landscapes, the 

 colouring chiefly consists of various combinations far removed 

 from the primaries, in ornamentation the due effect is pro- 

 duced by the union of positive colours, most of which should be 

 primaries. But the quantity of each colour need not, as some 

 suppose, be made to accord with that in the prism and the 

 rainbow ; and there is no more reason for this than for always 

 arranging colours in the same order as they appear in the 

 prism. The quantity of different colours will also depend on 

 the place, or the position, where they are to be introduced, 

 on the character of a building, and on various conditions; 

 their quality too must depend on circumstances; and the 

 same colours will have a very different effect when seen by 

 candle-light and in the light of day. 



15. Some there are who maintain that because in nature cer- 

 tain two colours are found in juxtaposition, they must neces- 

 sarily be concords ; and cite those in various flowers to support 

 their argument ; but they forget that besides the petals and 

 the leaves, their eye sees at the same time the yellow anthers, 

 the brown stalk, or other coloured objects, even when the 

 flower is plucked, and many more when it is viewed in the 

 bed where it grows. The light and shade, and sometimes the 

 semi-transparency of the petals, also give to the hues in 

 flowers a somewhat different effect from what they would 

 have as flat colours. But whatever may be the cause of 

 the difference, there is no doubt of the fact, and this is all 

 that is necessary for us to notice in considering the agree- 

 ment or disagreement of the colours. If too, in the great 

 variety of combinations presented to us by nature, there 

 must necessarily be perfect harmony; and if nature is 

 expected always to supply us with concords, we shall have no 

 choice left but to receive the most opposite combinations 

 with equal favour. The same acceptation of the colours of 

 nature as necessary concords must on these conditions be 



