Werner's Nomenclature of Colours

Originally published in 1814, this remarkable volume features 110 colour swatches paired with poetic descriptions that capture nature's vibrant palette.

In the eighteenth century, German geologist Abraham Gottlob Werner (1750-1817) set out to establish a standard reference guide to colour for use in the general sciences. Decades later, Scottish botanical artist Patrick Syme (1774-1845) extended Werner's work, refining it into a comprehensive catalogue of the most prominent shades and hues found in nature. The result was a timeless compendium of colour that showcases the beauty of nature across the animal, vegetable, and mineral kingdoms.

Each colour swatch in Syme's edition of Werner's Nomenclature of Colours is accompanied by examples found in nature, offering a practical tool for scientists, artists, and explorers alike. Notably, Charles Darwin used this guide during his voyage on the HMS Beagle to accurately describe his observations.

This exquisite collection of colours celebrates the harmony of art and science, capturing the beauty found in the natural world.

SYME, PATRICK (1774-1845), flower-painter, was born in Edinburgh on 17 Sept. 1774, and there educated. He occasionally practised portraiture, but is best known as a flower-painter, and in the early Scottish exhibitions, which began in 1808, his flower-pieces were much admired.

In 1803 he took up his brother's practice as a drawing-master, and subsequently his time was largely devoted to teaching. In 1810 Syme published 'Practical Directions for Learning Flower Drawing, ' and in 1814 a translation of Werner's 'Nomenclature of Colours.'

He was one of the associated artist members of the Royal Institution, but took a leading part in the foundation of the Scottish Academy, occupying the chair at the first meeting in May 1826, and was one of the council of four then appointed to manage its affairs.

Towards the close of his life he was art master at Dollar academy. Syme was a student of botany and entomology, and made many excellent drawings of natural history.

In 1823 he issued a 'Treatise on British Song Birds.' He married a daughter of Lord Balmuto, the Scots judge, and died at Dollar, Clackmannanshire, in July 1845.

-A Biography from Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 55

WERNER, Abraham Gottlob, a German mineralogist, born at Wehrau, Upper Lusatia, Sept. 25, 1750, died in Dresden, June 30, 1817. He completed his studies at Freiberg and Leipsic, and from 1775 till his death was professor of mineralogy and geology at the Freiberg mining academy.

He was early regarded as the first mineralogist of his time, and his lectures were attended by great numbers of students from all parts of Europe. He opened separate courses for various branches of study, and in 1785 one relating to geology, which he was the first to raise to the importance of a science by pointing out its application to the practical purposes of mining.

As early as 1774 he had published Von den äusserlichen Kennzeichen der Fossilien (translated into French by Mme. Guyton de Morveau, Paris, 1790; into English by Weaver with notes, Wernerian society, Edinburgh, 1849-'50), which, though only a brief essay, was said by Cuvier to have revolutionized mineralogy by giving precision to the terminology and classification of that science. His principles were widely disseminated by his pupils, among whom were Karsten and Robert Jameson, the latter of whom about 1845 established at Edinburgh the Wernerian society.

Antagonistic views on certain points were advocated by his contemporary Dr. Hutton of Edinburgh, and geologists were long divided into the Wernerian and Huttonian parties.

He was never married. His few works include Kurze Classification und Beschreibung der Gebirgsarten (Dresden, 1787), and his celebrated Neue Theorie über Entstehung der Gänge (Freiberg, 1791; translated into French by Daubuisson, Paris, 1803; into English by Charles Anderson, "New Theory of the Formation of Veins, with its Application to the Art of Working Mines," Edinburgh, 1809). His collection and manuscripts came into the possession of the Freiberg academy. Cuvier's eulogy of him is included in his Éloges historiques, edited by Flourens (Paris, 1860).

-A Biography from The American Cyclopaedia, 1879.