This is the first comprehensive text on the history of color theories since Halbertsma's book of 1947. Color is discussed in close connection with the evolution of ideas of light and vision. The book has chapters on the ancient Greek ideas of vision and color; on the contributions of Arabic science; on the Scientific Revolution from Kepler to Newton; on the early history of the three-color hypothesis; on the trichromatic theory and defective color vision; and on Goethe's, Schopenhauer's and Hering's theories. New understanding of the structure and functions of the retina and the brain finally results in the modern science of color vision. A History of Color has been written for ophthalmologists, optometrists and others who are interested in visual science and its history. The book requires no specialized knowledge.

Inhalt

I. Color Theory in the Ancient World. II. The Middle Ages. III. The Renaissance. IV. Light, Color and Vision During the Scientific Revolution. V. Newton. VI. From Newton to Young. VII. Classical-Romantic Colour Theory in Germany. VIII. Disorders of Color Vision. IX. The Mixing of Color. X. The Trichromatic Theory. XI. Hering's Four-Color Theory and the Zone Theories. XII. Anatomy and Physiology of the Visual System Between 1600 and 1900. XIII. The Twentieth Century. Appendix and Synopsis: What is Color? Notes. References. Index.