PRINCIPLES OF COLOR. 
23 
so as to bring the first and last in juxtaposition, these 
would be found to merge, and thus complete an unbroken 
ring of graded colors. The three primary colors each enter 
into the composition of eleven of the eighteen named in the 
list, as follows : Red, in nos. 1 to 6 and 14 to 18, inclusive ; 
yellow, in nos. 2 to 12 ; and blue, in nos. 8 to 18. 
Eeturning to the impure colors, or those which do not 
occur in the solar spectrum, it may be premised that 
black and white represent, respectively, the absorption and 
refraction of the sun's rays, the former being in reality 
a combination of all colors. 
It is an axiom of chromatologists that the multitu- 
dinous hues, shades, and tints of Nature are simply the 
results of various combinations of three primary colors, 
together with the two additional elements of absorption 
and refraction ; making five elements in all, from which 
it of course follows, as a mathematical deduction, that 
one hundred and twenty combinations, that is, specific 
colors (using the latter term in the comprehensive sense) 
are possible. Additional modifications almost ad infini- 
tum are produced by varying circumstances, as different 
relative proportions of the component elements, effects 
of contrast, etc. 
Accepting this theory as correct, it would therefore 
seem that in order to reproduce from Nature any color, 
tint, or shade whatsoever, that might be desired, the 
artist would require only three pigments to represent the 
primary colors, that is, a red, a yellow, 1 and a blue ; together 
1 We here speak of yellow as one of the primary colors, for the reason 
that it is really so to all appearance and intent, so far as the requirements 
of the artist are concerned. It has, however, we think, "been conclusively 
proven that it is green and not yellow which is the third primary color, in 
addition to red and blue. Says Von Bezold (Theory of Color, p. 128) : 
"Red, yellow, and blue were generally looked upon in former times as 
the fundamental colors, the results accepted by the mixture of pigments 
