It Is True That A Mixture Of Black And White Is Of A Cool Hue Because

: ON THE PRIMARY, BLUE.

black is not a primary colour, but a compound of the three primary

colours in which blue predominates, a predominance which is rendered

more sensible when black is diluted with white. As to the colour of the

sky, in which light and shade are combined, that is likewise neutral,

and never blue except by contrast; thus, the more the light of the sun

partakes of a golden or orange hue, and the more parched and burnt the

ea th is, the bluer appears the sky, as in Italy and all hot countries.

In England, where the sun is cooler, and a perpetual verdure reigns,

infusing blue latently into the landscape, the sky is warmer and nearer

to neutrality, partaking of a diversity of greys, which beautifully

melodize with blue as their key, and harmonize with the light and

landscape. Therefore the colour of the sky is always a contrast to the

direct and reflected light of the scene: if this light were of a rose

colour, the neutral of the sky would be converted into green, or if

purple, the sky would become yellow. Similarly would it be in all cases,

according to the laws of chromatic equivalence and contrast, as may be

often seen in the openings of coloured clouds at the rising and setting

of the sun.



In art, blue is apt to be discordant in juxtaposition with green, and

less so with purple, both which are cool colours; consequently blue