The theory of colors and the theory of forms are one of the most important parts if you want to start an artistic schooling, nowadays. You must know which shades harmonize, which ones contrast to each other and which contrasts evoke specific feelings. I also think that it is really useful to have an overview of the entire color palette, just like having sort of an atlas.
Nowadays, these is so simple thanks to Photoshop and co.; and each DIY market offers a small catalogue of colors. Anyways! This already existed over 250 years ago! In 1692, a Dutch painter started to create a color book with watercolors, which even included almost 800 pages. Each color gradation and each nuance was precisely blended and added to the book.
This is an impressive achievement. I remember the numerous times I tried to blend the next lighter nuance for an image and always failed. This book probably was made for schooling, but since this book could be considered a unicum which is reasonable considering the handiwork only a few had the chance to take a look into this book.
Copyright and Source: http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2014/05/color-book/
