Howard, Frank: Colour, as a means of art: being an adaptation of the experience of professors to the practice of amateurs (London, 1838)

INTRODUCTION. 15

Watching a drawing thus in progress, it will be
observed that the greater part is done apparently
without a thought; it appears to be literally at the
"fingers' ends" of the artist: and this will be found
to comprehend much, if not all that confers the
effect of a picture. But in what does this consist ?
Repeated practice, and continued study of works
of art, will undoubtedly, in time, bring it to the
" fingers' ends" of the student also, and it will
insensibly become an inexplicable habit, manner
or style. But this is, in fact, what may be taught
or communicated in a short time, it is the know-
ledge resulting from the experience of ages,—the
edifice built up of discoveries from time to time
contributed to the fund of Art by the success and
failures of our predecessors. This is the knowledge
or science of painting, which should precede all
practice or attainment of skill, and such portion as
relates to colouring, it is the intention of the
present work to supply. Skill will follow as a
result of the endeavour to make use of the means
to produce the end—Pictures.

There has been, unfortunately, so great confusion
in the use of the terms applicable to Colours,
that it becomes difficult to convey any distinct