CURRENT LITERATURE.
Colour. By Professor A. H. Church. (Cassell and Co.)—The object of the volume now before us is to present to the intelligent and cultivated student considerations which, while they explain the theory and the origin of colour-sensations, shall also show the absolute accord of that theory and its rules with the art of colour. We are afraid that most art-students but faintly realise the necessity of essential rules of colour. They are probably unaware of such a thing as mutual absorption of colour, hence the failure of many mixtures of pigments ; they confuse shades, broken tints, and tones ; and this habit is as obstinate as habits commonly are. Professor Church's advice to them, to observe the wonderful gradations which Nature has provided for them, should be unnecessary ; but it is mach needed, for they certainly want reminding of it. Professor Church discusses and expounds the theory and rules for colour, and for combinations of colour, with that lucidity and conciseness that belong to an intimate and deep knowledge, combined with an exquisite appreciation and love of colour and its beauties. His remarks on " tints " are valuable, especially to the student, whose attention is not always drawn, as it should be, to the importance of this subject. The beauty of the coloured plates in themselves, as well as the facts they show, will appeal to all. We note, in particular, "Simultaneous Contrast," and "Contrast of Colour with White, Grey, and Black." We can assert, in conclusion, that the student who has carefully studied Professor Church's manual will not fail from want of knowledge of the rules of colour, or from ignorance of what constitutes true combination or true balance of colour. The present manual is an enlarged and revised edition of a previous work on the same lines.
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