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

66 FINE COLOURING.

Nor is truth of imitation sufficient of itself to
constitute Fine Colouring, though it always confers
a value on a work of Art

Fine Colouring, in the higher walks of Art,
implies an adaptation of the general aspect or style
of colouring to the expression and character of the
subject: it then acquires the title of Poetical
Colouring, which is its highest commendation as
a means of Art

But, independent of subject, there are other
abstract qualifications of Fine Colouring to be
sought for, in the representation of objects . It not
only requires such an arrangement of tints and
tones as shall produce an agreeable whole, but
descends to minutiae, and demands that such tints
and tones, shall be obtained by a degree of refine-
ment or idealization, within probability, of the
ordinary appearances of Nature, or by a selection of
the greatest beauties she displays, and such a
combination of them as shall contribute to convey
the most pleasing impressions, and present her
under the most attractive aspect.