Theory of Colours, Volume II

...only to give it a form; and as for that which actually serves as the final, finest ornament, one is usually accustomed to think of it the least at the beginning of a construction project.

We have provided excerpts original: "Auszüge"; refers to the historical section of the work where Goethe summarizes previous theories and found ourselves moved to do so by several causes. The books which had to be consulted here are rarely to be had—if not in large cities and well-equipped libraries, then certainly in many medium and small places, by whose interested residents and teachers we wished our work to be examined and utilized. Therefore, this volume was intended to become a kind of archive in which would be deposited what the most excellent men who have dealt with color theory Farbenlehre: the study of the nature and perception of color have expressed about it.

Another special consideration also arose, which applies both here and in the history of the sciences in general. It is extremely difficult to report the opinions of others, especially when they closely approach, intersect, and overlap with one another. If the reporter original: "Referent"; the person summarizing or reviewing the material is detailed, he excites impatience and boredom; if he wishes to be concise, he runs the risk of substituting his own view for the...