DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.19955#0034
32
DEMI TINTS, OE HALF TINTS.
DEMI TINTS, OE HALF TINTS.
In observing the colour of the human face, the un-
educated eye sees nothing more than the general or local
colour, making no nice distinctions between shadows,
" demi-tints," " pearl/' or " grey tints yet such grada-
tions and varieties do exist; and very much of what is
called "flesh-colour''' is composed of purples and greys.
Such, however, should never be so violent or decided, as to
impress the spectator with the notion of a prevalence of
blue and purple, and sometimes even of green. The
delicate shadows of the forehead are more grey than those
of the lower face; the half shadows under the eyes are more
inclined to purple; but whenever the deep shadows blend
into the local flesh colour, there will also be found a lilac
or a grey, according as the complexion is light or dark.
With many artists the lilac or pearly tint is in great request,
especially where the complexion is delicate and the skin
transparent, as in children. Greys are found by adding
cobalt to the shadow colour; pearly tint, by a mixture of
cobalt and pink madder, modified, when used, by " shadow
colour." It is a fine study for beginners to contemplate
the head in the National Gallery, called the " Gervartius"
of Vandyke, for the charm of its " pearly tint." The green,
seen in the works of some modern miniature painters, arises
merely from their having copied oil pictures by the old
masters, without reference to the fact of the original greys
having become green by the varnishes over them having
turned yellow.
DEMI TINTS, OE HALF TINTS.
DEMI TINTS, OE HALF TINTS.
In observing the colour of the human face, the un-
educated eye sees nothing more than the general or local
colour, making no nice distinctions between shadows,
" demi-tints," " pearl/' or " grey tints yet such grada-
tions and varieties do exist; and very much of what is
called "flesh-colour''' is composed of purples and greys.
Such, however, should never be so violent or decided, as to
impress the spectator with the notion of a prevalence of
blue and purple, and sometimes even of green. The
delicate shadows of the forehead are more grey than those
of the lower face; the half shadows under the eyes are more
inclined to purple; but whenever the deep shadows blend
into the local flesh colour, there will also be found a lilac
or a grey, according as the complexion is light or dark.
With many artists the lilac or pearly tint is in great request,
especially where the complexion is delicate and the skin
transparent, as in children. Greys are found by adding
cobalt to the shadow colour; pearly tint, by a mixture of
cobalt and pink madder, modified, when used, by " shadow
colour." It is a fine study for beginners to contemplate
the head in the National Gallery, called the " Gervartius"
of Vandyke, for the charm of its " pearly tint." The green,
seen in the works of some modern miniature painters, arises
merely from their having copied oil pictures by the old
masters, without reference to the fact of the original greys
having become green by the varnishes over them having
turned yellow.