§55 XVIII. PROPORTIONS OF COLOURS. 147 



must be bright and of smaller proportions than the other 

 colours. The equal intensity of the different tones is neces- 

 sary in all cases, as already stated (p. 59, § 42) ; except where 

 a lighter tone is required to brighten up a composition, or to 

 set off some other colour (p. 101). 



To mention all the proportions of colours for different com- 

 positions would require specimens of those various combina- 

 tions, and these would have to be considered under many 

 heads, — as for ornamental decoration in buildings (externally 

 and internally), in furniture, &c, for daylight and for candle- 

 light, and under all other conditions. Such minutiae could 

 only be given in a work of great dimensions, and with the aid 

 of numerous illustrations ; and even then it would be difficult 

 to define the exact proportions of each in all the various com- 

 binations in which they might possibly occur. But as the 

 relative quantity and proper position of colours are of so much 

 importance, I will not dismiss the subject without offering 

 some general remarks on those two essential points. 



As red and yellow have more analogy with each other 

 than with blue, it is necessary to have more blue than either 

 of those two in the same composition; and the propor- 

 tions of 8 blue, 5 red, and 3 yellow, {see above, p. 94, Sect. 

 III.) laid down by Mr. Field, may answer as a safe guide 

 in the ordinary combinations of those three colours, the 

 sum of the two last (5 + 3 ) being equal to the 8 of the 

 blue. And following the same ratio in a compound colour, 

 the 8 of blue will require an orange to have the same quan- 

 tity, 8 being the sum of the two, red and yellow (5 -f- 3), 

 which compose it. But this ratio can only be used as a 

 guide, not as a rule; and Mr. Field's proportions could 

 only be admitted in certain cases, for in many ornamental 

 patterns equal quantities of blue and orange would have a 

 very unsatisfactory effect. Besides, I must repeat that the 

 compound colour, orange, is not to be considered equivalent 



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