See more objects with the tag light, black and white, engraving, spectrum.

Object Timeline

  • We acquired this object.

2018

2024

  • You found it!

Book, Ars magna lucis et umbr (The Great Art of Light and Shadow), 1671

This is a Book. It was published by J. Jansson & H. E. Weyerstraet.

This object is not part of the Cooper Hewitt's permanent collection. It was able to spend time at the museum on loan from Smithsonian Libraries and Archives as part of Saturated: The Allure and Science of Color.

It is dated 1671. Its medium is letterpress and engraving on paper.

Kircher believed that all colors could be reached from black and white. In his early color diagram, white (albus) and black (niger) appear on opposite ends, with the three primary colors—yellow (flavus), red (rubeus), and blue (caeruleus)—in between. Semicircular arcs represent the mixing of colors.

It is credited Smithsonian Libraries, Q155 .K56X 1671.

Our curators have highlighted 1 object that are related to this one.

Its dimensions are

H x W (open): 40 × 51 cm (15 3/4 × 20 1/16 in.)

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Saturated: The Allure and Science of Color.

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian’s Terms of Use page.

If you would like to cite this object in a Wikipedia article please use the following template:

<ref name=CH>{{cite web |url=https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/1108749939/ |title=Book, Ars magna lucis et umbr (The Great Art of Light and Shadow), 1671 |author=Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum |accessdate=26 April 2024 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution}}</ref>